Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions officials in her Department (a) have had and (b) plan to have with relevant stakeholders on the distribution of covid-19 vaccines through local civil society organisations in Myanmar.

We are deeply concerned about the impact of Covid on Myanmar's population. The UK has adapted our aid programmes to deliver an immediate response and longer-term recovery to boost resilience.

The UK is providing £11 million for the Covid-19 and broader health response in Myanmar this year, which is now being delivered through the UN, civil society and ethnic health organisations. The UK-funded COVAX facility, administered by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations (GAVI) partnership, has allocated 22.2 million Covid doses to Myanmar. We are working with GAVI to ensure that the people of Myanmar have access to the allocation of Covid-19 vaccinations through COVAX.

We are working closely with other donors, including other civil society organisations, to find equitable, safe and unhindered delivery of Covid vaccines.