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Myanmar: US$ 32.5 million required to implement critical life-saving interventions for Rakhine IDPs

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Myanmar
Sources
OCHA
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Publication date

Inter-community conflict in Rakhine State, which started in early June 2012, has resulted in displacement, loss of lives and livelihood. Of the over 100,000 people affected at the beginning of the crisis, many have already returned home, and as of 29 July, official Government statistics indicate that some 64,000 people remain displaced and are accommodated in 61 camps in Sittwe and Maungdaw townships. Population movement continues, and figures are being revised on a weekly basis. The Ministry of Information also indicated that 78 people were killed and 87 injured as a result of the violence and that over 4,800 buildings were destroyed.

Since the beginning of the unrest, the Government has been providing assistance such as food, shelter, non-food-items (NFIs) and medical supplies to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). In order to support the Government response, UN and NGO staff have been mobilized and relief supplies are being distributed.

An inter-agency multi-sectoral rapid needs assessment was conducted between 20 June and 10 July in 121 locations in four townships (109 in Sittwe, four in Rathedaung, seven in Maungdaw, one in Pauktaw), covering 107,886 IDPs (18,697 households). The assessment identified as major needs in food, shelter, NFI, WASH and health sectors, together with access to sanitation facilities and drinking water.

In an effort to enhance assistance and coordination, humanitarian partners undertook an analysis of the present situation and identified scenarios for the coming six months, against which sectoral plans and priorities were identified, taking into consideration the results of the inter-agency rapid assessment as well as the response priorities indicated by the Government and affected communities.

The plan concentrates on the immediate relief requirements until December 2012, and will be revised in September 2012. Priorities of sectoral interventions include:

Education: Construction of temporary learning spaces, provision of education materials and school furniture.
Food: Food distribution.
Health: Strengthening of health care services and disease surveillance as well as replenishment of medical supplies.
Livelihood: Income generation programmes both in camps and villages .
Nutrition: Implementation of therapeutic feeding, blanket supplementary feeding, micronutrient supplementation and Infant Feeding in Emergency activities.
Protection: Identification of extremely vulnerable individuals and strengthening of child protection activities.
Shelter, CCCM, NFIs: Distribution of NFIs, shelter construction and provision of camp management training;
WASH: Distribution of basic hygiene items, provision of latrines and bathing areas, operation of safe solid waste disposal and drainage system, construction of safe water supply.

Whilst partners are redoubling efforts and are employing all available resources to respond to the needs of the affected people, more support is required to continue providing critical life-saving interventions.
The plan now estimates that up to 80,000 people, including IDPs and the most vulnerable in host communities that have been directly impacted by the incidents and that are not included in previous interventions will require relief assistance.

Some US$32.5 million will be required to ensure assistance to the full caseload until the end of 2012.
Planning assumptions will be revised in September.

Adjustments may be required in light of the dynamics of the situation and possible population movements.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.