Myanmar - Monthly Humanitarian Update

Report compiled by UN-OCHA with Humanitarian Country Team partners contribution

Issue: December 2011 / January 2012

Key Developments
Displacement and humanitarian needs continue to increase in Kachin State due to continued instability. A UN team visited Laiza in Kachin State and provided household family kits to IDPs. Serious concern over southern Chin State Food insecurity.

I. SITUATION OVERVIEW
Displacement and humanitarian needs in Kachin and in northern Shan State continue to rise as a result of continued instability. The total number of IDPs increased from an estimated 29,000 in October 2011, to 50,000 in December to over 55,000 in mid-January 2012. Reports indicate that a number of people fled to China, but information is still sketchy and cannot be independently verified at the moment. Reports available also indicate that, since 11 December, some 1,000 IDPs also fled some areas of northern Shan State and reached four IDPs camps in Namkhan Township. In support of the Governments efforts to assist the IDPs there, humanitarian partners provided assistance in the education, food, NFIs, shelter and WASH sectors. In early January, displacement was also reported in a new area of Kachin state, Hpakan, following security incidents. Information available indicate that some 2,5003,000 migrant workers working in Hpakan fled to their places of origin. In addition, an estimated 2,000 natives reportedly sought refuge in camps or with friends and relatives in the area. The Hpakan General Administration Department and local partners reported that, as of 16 January, some 1,932 IDPs have been accommodated in

eight temporary camps have been established in Hpakan Town (1,489 IDPs) and in six sites in Kar Maing area (443 IDPs). On 9 January, the Kachin State Government organized a relief convoy to Hpakan carrying supplies such as rice, tarpaulins and NFIs. The UN entrusted a local partner with some 500 NFI family kits for distribution to IDPs. Following discussions between the Government and the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the UN were able to dispatch, on 12 December, a team and non-food items (NFI) for some 800 families to Laiza. This was the first delivery of UN relief supplies to IDPs in areas previously not covered by UN assistance. The UN team travelled from Bhamo to Laiza and experienced logistical difficulties along the road, as road conditions are poor and several bridges have been damaged in recent months. The team visited six IDP camps (four in Laiza and two in the vicinity) and identified shelter, NFIs (particularly tarpaulins, blankets and warm clothes), education materials, vaccines and psychosocial support as the most urgent needs. The UN NFI kits were distributed in two IDPs locations in Laiza in collaboration with camps committees. However, these items were insufficient to cover the basic needs of the population and dispatch of additional assistance

OCHA
An IDP camp in Waingmaw Township.

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to all affected locations is being planned. The UN continues to advocate with all parties for UN and partners additional convoys and relief distribution to take place in all IDPs locations across the affected areas. A UN team, on 11 January, visited the camp of Shan Kyaing village, Kan Paik Yi sub-township, Waingmaw Township, an area previously not covered by UN assistance and where some 1,398 IDPs have been displaced since November. The team conducted a rapid assessment in the camp and identified shelter, food and WASH as the most urgent needs. In consultation with the camp management committee, UNHCR distributed NFIs to 268 IDPs households. Partners are finalizing a more comprehensive monitoring system targeting IDPs locations/camps on the basis of the assessment exercise carried out in September 2011 in Myitkyina, Waingmaw, Bhamo, Momauk and Mansi. Such system is crucial to identify trends of population, identify gaps and remaining needs and to ensure timely response. The system should be launched at the end of January 2012 in the same areas covered by the September assessment. Concurrently, the Relief Action Network for IDPs and Refugees (RANIR), a coordination setting operating in affected areas along the Myanmar-China border, together with camp volunteers is undertaking an a assessment of 25 IDPs camps/locations in areas where government services are unavailable using a similar data collection format administered during the September assessment. Initial findings are expected to be available by end January 2012. The Kachin State Government is developing a framework for recovery operation for IDPs in Kachin, including re-

December 2011 / January 2012

ACF
Partners assess the nutrition status of the children in Chin State.

sources needed/available to establish an enabling environment for a safe return of IDPs. The Myitkyina Relief and Resettlement Department is the focal point for elaborating the document. Meanwhile, on 29 December, the Kachin State Social Affairs Minister met with camp management teams in Myitkyina and Waingmaw and discussed the issue of IDPs return, highlighting that some areas where the situation stabilized could be considered for IDPs to return. Similar meetings were organized by the General Administration Department in other townships. The food security and nutritional status of people living in southern Chin State is of concern, according to the findings of a recent food security assessments. According to the study, the situation is worse than previous years, and even more serious than during the rat infestation of 2008/9. Due to crop failures and an extreme low yield in 2011 in southern Chin State, current food stocks are expected to be depleted in January, and the next harvest is going to be available only in September. Available data indicates that severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and global acute malnutrition (GAM) levels are above emergency thresholds in southern areas of the State. WFP and partners will conduct a rapid food security assessments in Kanpellet, Matupi, and Mindat Townships from 16 to 27 January to better understand the needs of the affected populations, followed by an appropriate intervention based on the assessment results. Findings are expected to be shared with partners in February.

OCHA
IDPs in one of the camps in Laiza.

A massive fire at the warehouses and adjacent buildings in Mingalar Taungnyunt Township of Yangon Region on 29 December left 17 dead, including five fire

Myanmar - Monthly Humanitarian Update

fighters, and 83 injuries. The deadly fire also left over 1,000 people (140 households) homeless. The affected people were temporarily accommodated in relief camps set up at two basic education primary schools and a monastery in the Township. The government departments, private sector and social organisations provided assistance in shelter, NFIs, food and health sectors. On 1 January 2012, the Vice-President visited the relief camps and provided 200,000 Kyats (approximately US$250) to each affected households. On 6 December, President U Thein Sein met the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasinain, in Nay Pyi Taw and discussed the issue of possible repatriation of Myanmar refugees from Bangladesh. It is reported that a delegation from Myanmar will visit Bangladesh soon to facilitate the process.

December 2011 / January 2012

UNICEF
Recycled school materials used in one of the Laiza IDPs school

puts will guide the design and delivery of a support package for the next months, including a simulation exercise (planned for May 2012) where partners preparedness capacity will be tested and remaining gaps identified.

II. DISASTER MANAGEMENT

In September 2011, OCHA, in collaboration with partners, launched the Country Level Integrated Preparedness Package for Emergency Response (CLIPPER), with a launch of an online survey which took stock of existing emergency preparedness activities undertaken by key stakeholders and of the level of familiarity with key concepts related to emergency preparedness and response. The survey findings indicate that many organizations and institutions are not adequately aware of humanitarian tools and services or of the humanitarian reform/cluster approach. Findings also highlighted that half of the respondents have never participated in a contingency planning process and have not had experience in preparation of funding documents. Focus group discussions with key partners, including the Government, UN and NGOs are going to take place between 18 and 25 January. The in-

III. HUMANITARIAN NEEDS AND RESPONSE

EDUCATION Kachin displacement - On 13 December, Government sources reported that, in 10 of the townships affected by the instability recorded in Kachin and Shan states since June, 51 schools have been closed down, affecting some 7,872 students. UN staff visiting Laiza reported that IDP children in Laiza and Shan Kyaing require provision of education materials, including text books, exercise books and stationary. Whilst response continues, as the current academic year will end in February, partners are planning to undertake an assessment of the level of needs for the next school year which will start in June. In Shan Kyaing village, the UN mission findings indicated that only 13% of the primary school children (20 out of 150) continue to attend the school because of long distance between the camp and the schools. Following a discussion with UNICEF, the Education Department granted permission for children who are not attending school to sit for the final exam, which is scheduled for the second week of February, as local partners can provide support to prepare for the tests. In areas covered by government services, the Kachin State Government opened several temporary schools to accommodate some 3,153 IDPs school children to ensure continuation of education. In partnership with township education offices, UNICEF distributed 864 essential learning packages in Myitkyina and 409 in Waingmaw to the primary school students. The construction of a tempo-

UNICEF
Temporary school accommodating IDP children in Laiza

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rary safe learning space, adjoined to the No. 2 Basic Education High School, in Waingmaw Township was completed with financial and labour support from the local Parent-Teacher Association. The learning space is covering the needs of 536 primary children in three surrounding IDPs camps/sites. Education partners continue to provide additional temporary learning spaces in several locations, including Myitkyina, Waingmaw, Moemauk and Bhamo Townships. FOOD WFP and partners continue to provide food assistance to populations in parts of the country where food insecurity is most prevalent. In 2011, some 1.37 million people have been assisted with 34,645 metric tons of food through various programme components including relief assistance, food for work, food for education, as well as mother and child nutrition, and HIV/TB supplementary assistance. Kachin displacement - Due to the deterioration of the security situation in Kachin, WFP and partners will distribute food assistance to some 15,000 IDPs living in Myitkyina, Waingmaw, Bhamo, Mansi, Momauk in January, from 10,600 people (174 metric tons) in December (see graphs below). WFP and partners stand ready to expand operations to all those affected. In Laiza area, local partners continue to provide rice and basic food items to IDPs. Food stocks, however, are reportedly running low. HEALTH Kachin displacement - Available information indicated that although no outbreak of diseases is reported as yet where Government services are available, seasonal flu cases are increasing, particularly among elderly and children, due to significant decreasing of temperature in re-

December 2011 / January 2012

OCHA
IDPs children in Shan Kyaing village, Waingmaw Township.

cent weeks. The Kachin State Relief and Resettlement Department encouraged the camp management teams to contact respective local health departments directly or through the General Administration Department for any health assistance that may be required in IDPs locations, highlighting that the State Government has given instructions to the health departments across Kachin to provide medical care/assistance to IDPs free of charge.World Concern reported that the organization is ready to cover the cost for medication and transportation to IDPs patients when camp management staff refer patients for treatment in Myitkyina and Waingmaw Townships. Most of the IDPs camps are overcrowded, hygiene conditions in the camps/sites have worsened and access to basic services is poor for new IDPs sites in remote areas. In order to ensure that IDPs in the remote location have access to basic medical care, setup of additional clinics is urgently needed, as it is the strengthening and expansion of surveillance in view of further deterioration of the living

WFP food distribution beneficiaries and tonnage August 2011-January 2012

Myanmar - Monthly Humanitarian Update

December 2011 / January 2012 ters at the end of December. Kachin displacement - The shelter situation is progressively deteriorating despite partners interventions, as in recent months the number of IDPs camps/sites has increased and more people continue to flee to safer locations. In Myitkyina, Waingmaw, Bhamo, Momauk, Mansi, the number of sites has increased from 39 in September to 83 in December. Partners also indicated that shelter needs remain in camps along the border with China areas as IDPs there did not receive any significant shelter assistance since the beginning of the crisis.

OCHA
Many people in the Delta are still in need of shelter support.

conditions in the camps. Although the Government and health partners have provided basic health assistance to IDPs, additional resources for basic treatment and referral support is urgently required to complement and strengthen current efforts. Medical supplies are in short supply in most of the IDPs locations, including Laiza and Shan Kyaing village. PROTECTION Northern Rakhine State (NRS). The Government is undertaking a registration of some 6,000 to 7,000 unregistered children across NRS. In addition to the inclusion of their name in respective family lists, the registration will allow these children to access essential services, such as schooling and health care. Humanitarian partners marked the annual UN "16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence Campaign" with a walk-through downtown Maungdaw on 5 December and a public event in the town hall on 10 December. In NRS, UNHCR also conducted awareness raising sessions in the community on the Convention on Rights of the Child (CRC) on 22 December as a part of its advocacy activities on different rights related-issues. SHELTER/NFIs Cyclone Nargis affected areas - Shelter partners estimated that approximately 19.9% of the households affected by the deadly 2009 cyclone Nargis remains in need of shelter support. However, most shelter agencies have already phased out from the Delta due to lack of funding, and as of 1 January, only ADRA and UN-Habitat remain operational in the Delta. NRC has closed its shelter operations after the completion of 106 durable shel-

In response to a Government request, UNHCR has constructed 269 temporary housing family units in Myitkyina and Waingmaw Townships. World Vision provided shelters for 50 IDPs households in Waningmaw Township. Nonetheless, in view of the increasing number of displaced and IDPs camps overcrowding, shelter intervention need to be further expanded. As an example, the UN team reported that in Shan Kyaing village, shelter assistance is urgently needed for 268 IDPs households as the existing temporary dwellings are in poor conditions and cannot resist rain and strong wind. UNHCR also conducted Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) trainings from 14 to 16 December, targeting local authorities, NGOs, FBOs, and CBOs, volunteers and UN staff directly involved in camp management activities in Myitkyina, Waingmaw, Bhamo, Moemauk and Mansi Townships. As the cold season has started and the temperature has significantly dropped in recent weeks, most of the IDPs need additional NFI support, particularly blankets and warm clothes. UNHCR, UNICEF and World Vision and other partners mobilized internal resources and distributed approximately 5,000 NFI household kits since the beginning of the operation. On 11 January, UNHCR provided NFIs to some 268

NFIs distribution in Kachin State

1560

1376

UNICEF UNHCR World Vision

635

1515

MRCS

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December 2011 / January 2012 cation (IEC) materials. UNICEF will provide community latrines in Myitkyina, Waingmaw, Bhamo, Momauk and Mansi through distribution of pipes and pans to households so that IDPs families can bring it back to their villages of origin when they will be able to return to their villages. Additionally, local partners, with support from World Concern Myanmar, will construct six water tanks and 30 latrines in IDPs camps/sites in Myitkyina and Waingmaw Townships. MRCS distributed 1,161 dignity kits in Myitkyina, Waingmaw and Kaung Lan Phu areas. World Vision provided 25 latrines in ten IDPs locations in Waingmaw Township.

OCHA
A camp close to Laiza

IV. FUNDING UPDATE

Partners estimated that additional US$6,440,680 is needed to provide assistance to some 50,000 IDPs for six months across Kachin. As the number of IDPs is increasing, partners will undertake a revision of requirements during the month of February. Out of the total need of US$6.4 million, the CERF Rapid Response (Central Emergency Response Fund) has approved US$1.5 million at the request of the RC/HC. The fund will cover four projects, submitted by three UN agencies to provide life-saving assistance to IDPs in Kachin in five sectors (food, health, protection, WASH, shelter and NFI sectors). HUMANITARIAN FUNDING FOR MYANMAR
23 January 2012 $ 25,333,333
The total amount of funding for Myanmar in 2012

households in Shan Kyaing camp and do not foresee additional NFI needs in the village in coming months. In Hpakan, some 1,665 persons (out of a total of 1,932 IDPs) have been provided with tarpaulins and NFIs (blankets, kitchen utensils, clothes and mosquito nets) on 15 January. In partnership with national NGOs, UNHCR will further distribute additional 1,000 sets of NFIs in Bhamo and Waingmaw Townships. UNICEF will provide 500 family kits and some blankets in remaining areas of Bhamo. WASH Kachin displacement - Safe and clean water remains an urgent need for IDPs despite the availability of water in rivers and creeks close-by several IDPs sites. Access to safe water in urban camps in Myitkyina, Waingmaw and Bhamo Townships is reportedly better than in other locations, although the existing capacity would need to be supplemented before the dry season that will start in March. Additional latrines and hygiene promotion activities are also needed in most of the camps, due to the increasing number of IDPs. In the last month, local NGOs, with support from UNICEF, constructed additional 77 latrines in Myitkyina and Waingmaw camps and provided hygiene promotion along with family kits and Information, Education and Communi-

$ 72,060,329
The total amount of funding for Myanmar in 2011. (including CERF 2011 fist and second round under-funded.)

$4,983,445 $ 1,550,000
The total amount of uncommitted pledges for Myanmar in 2011 Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) Grant for Myanmar in 2011 (first and second round under-funded Allocation)

All figures in the Update are based on data reported to the FTS. In an effort to render the data increasingly comprehensive, donors and recipient organizations are encouraged to report latest figures to FTS at: [email protected] . The amount excludes funding which has not been reported by donors to FTS.

Report compiled by UN-OCHA with Humanitarian Country Team partners contribution For additional information or queries, please contact OCHA Myanmar. Email: [email protected]
The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.