Research Paper by the Burma UN Service Office - New York, December 2002 (published, March 2003)... Executive Summary: "The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma?s (the NCGUB) position on humanitarian aid is that the dire humanitarian situation should be one of the first items on the agenda of a substantive dialogue between the SPDC and the NLD. Joint consultative mechanisms should be established to ensure that aid reaches the right people in the right way. The objective of these mechanisms would be to ensure transparency and accountability and independent monitoring of the provision of humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable populations in Burma. Once these modalities are agreed upon, humanitarian aid by the international community should increase. Initially, to ensure the implementation and enforcement of the joint mechanisms, the NCGUB would prefer funds to finance small-scale projects managed by international NGOs." ... Contents: Executive Summary;The General Humanitarian Situation in Burma: Poverty; health; HIV/AIDS; education; food insecurity; displacement; landmines. Why is there a Humanitarian Crisis in Burma? Economic mismanagement; oppression of civil society; ongoing conflict, displacement, human rights abuses and access. The National League for Democracy?s Position; ; Current Humanitarian Assistance in Burma: Specific challenges faced by international aid agencies; past incidences of concern involving international aid agencies; building the capacity of civil society; the joint principles of operation/code of conduct for INGOs. Humanitarian Cease-fires: Potential Peace-Building Tool; Potential Institutional Processes for the Provision of Humanitarian Assistance; A Possible Humanitarian Assistance Model for Burma ; ANNEXES: Annex I: Summary of UN Agencies and Projects Inside Burma; Annex II: List of International NGOs Inside Burma; Annex III: Joint Principles of Operation of International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) Providing Humanitarian Assistance in Burma/Myanmar; Annex IV: The Sphere Project ? Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response; Annex V: Case Studies of Humanitarian Intervention; Annex VI: Guidelines Table for the Arrangement of Humanitarian Cease-Fires;