Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Websites/Multiple Documents
Description:
Timely reports on the humanitarian situation in Myanmar - from UN, Government and media sources.
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)
Date of entry/update:
2012-07-31
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Category:
Humanitarian assistance - emergencies, Humanitarian assistance to Burma -- contact lists and mixed content, Arakan (Rakhine) State - reports etc. by date (latest first), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Language:
English
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Individual Documents
Description:
"This regular update, covering humanitarian developments up to 3 March, is produced by OCHA Myanmar in collaboration with the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group and UN agencies. Response figures are based on self-reporting by organizations to clusters. The next humanitarian update will be issued end of March 2024.
HIGHLIGHTS & KEY MESSAGES
• Across Myanmar 18.6 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in 2024, with people struggling to survive amid conflict and insecurity, civilian safety and protection threats, as well as soaring inflation that is affecting people’s ability to meet basic needs.
• Conflict spans various parts of the country with a deteriorating situation in Rakhine, as well as the Northwest and Southeast, driving new displacement. Nationwide, more than 2.7 million people are now displaced.
• In Rakhine, people were killed and injured in Sittwe when a stray shell, landed in the downtown market on 29 February.
• The closure of roads and waterways in Rakhine since the renewed conflict in November 2023 has led to food scarcity and other supply shortages, as well as increased prices of essential goods.
• The situation in northern Shan has been relatively stable following the ceasefire agreed in January. However, landmine contamination, recruitment by armed groups, isolated tensions and movement restrictions remain a threat to local communities. UN staff temporarily relocated from Lashio will soon be returning due to the improved security situation.
• Active fighting, administrative restrictions being imposed by all sides, and violence and harassment of humanitarian personnel remain key barriers to accessing affected people and providing lifesaving assistance.
• At least 3.2 million people were reached with assistance in 2023 however this support is not as deep or sustained as planned due to underfunding and access constraints.
• Through the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan aid workers aim to reach 5.3 million people with urgent assistance for which $994 million is required. A repeat of 2023 funding levels (HRP 37 per cent funded) in 2024 would be catastrophic for affected people..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2024-03-03
Date of entry/update:
2024-03-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
536.21 KB
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Description:
"OVERVIEW:
At the close of 2023, Myanmar was entrenched in a deepening humanitarian crisis with the civilian population facing new dimensions of conflict across multiple fronts that are driving surging displacement and escalating humanitarian needsincreasing fear for their lives and is now grappling with exhausted coping capacities. The humanitarian situation remained dire at year’s end, primarily fueled by profound protection risks from conflict and discrimination, compounded by a range of challenges such as food insecurity, a beleaguered health system, disrupted education, and the aftermath of Cyclone Mocha which struck Myanmar in May and affected more than three million people. Inflation and conflict have led to a sharp increase in the price of essential items, leaving vulnerable households hungry and economically distressed, pushing many to resort to negative coping measures for survival.
The final days of 2023 witnessed intense fighting across the majority of states and regions, compelling civilians to flee their homes, often multiple times, largely due to fears of indiscriminate attacks and the use of aerial bombardment. As of 31 December, more than 2.6 million people were estimated to be displaced nationwide, facing dire conditions and inadequate shelter, often in informal sites, with a desperate need for basic services like clean water. Those on the move are confronting escalating risks from explosive ordnance, and individuals in protracted displacement situations are seeing their vulnerabilities compounded over time. The cumulative impact of conflict, displacement, poverty, and natural disasters underscores the gravity of the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, necessitating urgent and comprehensive interventions to alleviate the suffering of the affected population.
Humanitarian efforts in 2023 faced severe hindrances due to access constraints and bureaucratic impediments, with at least 142 arrests and detentions of aid workers reported. However, advocacy persists for expanded access to conflict areas, particularly in regions where bureaucratic hindrances have intensified since the escalation of conflict in late October. Despite these challenges, resilient humanitarian actors used a range of approaches to reach at least 3.2 million people with assistance at least once. It is also likely that actual reach is higher due to underreporting of assistance in conflict areas but this remains difficult to quantify. While the number of people reached is substantial in the circumstances, this reach falls short of the envisioned depth and sustainability due to substantial underfunding, resulting in an unprecedented level of unmet needs (1.8 million people missed), which is expected to persist into 2024. As of 31January 2024, funding against the 2023 Myanmar Humanitarian Response Plan had reached $324 million which is only 37 per cent of the requested funding, leaving a significant $563 million funding gap. Urgent attention and a substantial increase in financial support for both humanitarian and development actors are imperative to bridge this gap in 2024.
Analysis of reach Humanitarians reached 65 per cent (3.2 million people) of the annual HRP target set at 5 million individuals, with more than half a million people impacted by cyclone Mocha assisted via a range of modalities. Notably, close to 1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) received assistance during the course of the year, reflecting a concerted effort in 2023 to better address the needs of one of these critically vulnerable groups. This is a 33 per cent increase on the number of IDPs reached in 2022 but still means that there were significant gaps in assisting newly displaced people in hard-to-reach areas. Additionally, more than 1.8 million of people reached fall within the category of other crisis-affected people with humanitarian needs, highlighting the diverse challenges faced by the population and humanitarian efforts to support non-displaced populations due to the collapse of basic services and in the absence of large-scale development interventions. This is unsustainable in the longer-term and underscores the need for complimentary development funding to build community resilience.
The data also underscores a specific emphasis on children in the response, with the number of boys and girls reached steadily increasing each quarter, indicating an awareness of the vulnerabilities children face in crisis situations. Furthermore, there is a consistent and commendable effort to reach persons with disabilities, as reflected in the steadily increasing numbers throughout the year. This commitment has led to a more inclusive approach to humanitarian assistance, recognizing and actively addressing the specific challenges confronted by this group, though overall numbers of persons with disabilities reached still remain far behind those targeted for humanitarian assistance. The data also reveals a consistent trend wherein the number of women reached exceeds that of men, showcasing a heightened awareness of gender-specific vulnerabilities.
Thanks to the concentrated efforts of the clusters in enhancing outreach and bolstering partner capacity, the count of partners reporting their progress grew significantly from 222 in 2022 to 269 in 2023. Likewise, the overall number of participating cluster partners (those participating in cluster meetings and activities) increased from 238 in 2022 to 272 in 2023. The majority of partners are thus now regularly sharing their progress on their humanitarian response activities.
Despite formidable access constraints, humanitarian operations demonstrated resilience by expanding into hard-to-reach areas, achieving 64 per cent of those targeted in the Southeast. A notable increase was also seen in people reach figure from 269,600 at the end of 2022 to 536,000 in the close of 2023, reflecting a significant expansion in coverage of assistance. The Northeast and Rakhine experienced a notable scale-up in assistance, with rates of 112 per cent and 88 per cent respectively with the quarter 4 escalation in fighting and Cyclone Mocha likely to be key factors in the increased response effort in these areas. Encouragingly, the clusters covering education, food security, protection, and shelter/NFI/CCCM noted improved results against escalating needs reaching anywhere between 65 per cent up to 90 per cent of their targets by the conclusion of 2023. The Health Cluster reported only 31 per cent reach, although to some extent this is the result of underreporting of this type of activity..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2024-02-21
Date of entry/update:
2024-02-21
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Human Rights and international relations
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
662.54 KB
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Description:
"HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY MESSAGES
2023 drew to a close with continued intense fighting across vast swathes of the country, record displacement, and pervasive protection threats facing the civilian population.
The escalation in fighting since the end of October 2023 has persisted for more than two months and is the largest in scale and most extensive geographically since early 2021.
At the end of 2023, more than 2.6 million people were estimated to be displaced nationwide, with an estimated 628,000 people forced to flee since the intensification of fighting at the end of October.
Humanitarians continue to face heavy access constraints and bureaucratic impediment. More than 142 aid worker arrests and detentions by parties to the conflict were self-reported by humanitarian organizations between January and November 2023.
Advocacy continues for expanded access to conflict areas, especially in areas where bureaucratic impediments have accelerated since the conflict escalation at the end of October.
Humanitarians have stayed and delivered in 2023, reaching at least 2.5 million people with assistance in the first 9 months of the year and expecting to have assisted 3.1 million people by year’s end.
However, this reach is not as deep or sustained as planned due to gross underfunding of the response, leaving significant unmet needs that are flowing into 2024.
The 2023 Myanmar Humanitarian Response Plan received just 32 per cent of requested funding in 2023, leaving a $600 million funding gap.
The 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan has been published identifying a record 18.6 million people in need, up from 17.6 million in 2023. The Plan prioritizes 5.3 million people for urgent assistance in 2024 for which $994 million is required. The Myanmar translation of the 2024 HNRP executive summary can be found here.
Nearly three years since the military takeover, the crisis in Myanmar risks becoming a forgotten emergency. The situation demands immediate and sustained international attention in 2024 to raise the funds required to alleviate suffering and save lives.
KEY FIGURES*
2.6M Total people currently internally displaced across Myanmar
2.3M People currently displaced by clashes and insecurity since February 2021
306K People who remain internally displaced due to conflict prior to February 2021, mainly in Rakhine, Kachin, Chin, and Shan
18.6M People in Need 2024
5.3M People targeted for assistance 2024
$994M Requirement 2024
* Displacement figures fluctuate during any given month. These figures represent the number of people currently verified as displaced. Cumulative numbers for returns and displacement are not always available.
2023 YEAR-END SITUATION OVERVIEW
Myanmar stands at the precipice at the end of 2023 with a deepening humanitarian crisis that has spiralled since the February 2021. The civilian population is living in fear for their lives, with coping capacities stretched to the limit. The crisis is now marked by surging displacement, a fragile security environment, profound protection threats and escalating unmet needs. The humanitarian situation remains grim at year’s end, largely fuelled by protection risks and conflict, compounded by a myriad of challenges, including food insecurity, a health system in crisis, disrupted education, huge numbers of people on the move amid fears for their safety, and the aftermath of Cyclone Mocha which struck Myanmar in May affecting 3 million people. Inflation and conflict are driving up the price of food, fuel, and other basic items, leaving vulnerable households hungry and in economic distress with increasing numbers resorting to negative coping measures to survive.
The final days of 2023 have been marked by continued intense fighting across a majority of states and regions, with civilians fleeing their homes often multiple times, in large part due to fears over attacks. As of 25 December, more than 2.6 million people estimated were displaced nationwide, with most surviving in terrible conditions, lacking adequate shelter, most often in informal sites and in desperate need of access to basic services such as clean water. People on the move continue to be exposed to escalating explosive ordnance risks, and those in situations of protracted displacement face intensification of their vulnerabilities over time..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2024-01-12
Date of entry/update:
2024-01-12
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Human Rights and international relations, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
895.24 KB
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Description:
"Theme: Shelter and Non-Food Items..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-12-20
Date of entry/update:
2023-12-21
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Internal displacement/forced migration of Kachin, Internal displacement/forced migration of Shan. Palaung and Wa villagers
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
618.4 KB
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Description:
"Theme: Shelter and Non-Food Items..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-12-20
Date of entry/update:
2023-12-21
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Internal displacement/forced migration of Kachin
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
1.98 MB
Local URL:
more
Description:
"Theme: Shelter and Non-Food Items.."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-12-20
Date of entry/update:
2023-12-21
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Internal displacement/forced migration of Shan. Palaung and Wa villagers
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
2.64 MB
Local URL:
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Description:
"MYANMAR: Fighting between the Myanmar Armed Forces and multiple armed groups has intensified since late October and continues to cause surging displacement in multiple states and regions, as well as grave protection threats. Since 26 October, more than 660,000 people have been newly displaced in northern and southern Shan, Kayah, Rakhine, Chin, Sagaing, Mandalay, eastern Bago, Kayin, Mon and Tanintharyi. This brings the total number of internally displaced people to 2.6 million nationwide. The vast majority of people recently displaced in northern Shan (82,000) have received assistance and work continues to expand the response in other impacted areas such as the Northwest where 50,000 people have already been reached. A rapid response allocation of US$7 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) will provide survival support to people most affected in the coming weeks however this is only a fraction of requirements.
An urgent increase in funding is needed for humanitarians to respond effectively to escalating needs with the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan only 29 per cent funded two weeks before the end of the year..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-12-20
Date of entry/update:
2023-12-20
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Humanitarian assistance - emergencies, Natural Disasters - General
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
2.37 MB
Local URL:
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Description:
"The Multi‐Cluster Initial Rapid Assessment (MIRA)
When a sudden onset disaster strikes, the MIRA is the agreed inter‐agency approach to undertake a joint assessment and analysis of needs to inform the development of the initial HCT strategic priorities and appeals. The MIRA is comprised of two fundamental components: i) initial assessment to collect and analyze pre‐ and post‐crisis secondary data, ii) and joint analysis to arrive at a collective vision of the humanitarian situation and strategic priorities.
Objective The primary objective of the MIRA in Myanmar is to provide decision support to the humanitarian community in the immediate provision of aid to populations affected by a crisis. The overall purpose is to help all humanitarian decision makers collectively understand and communicate on the nature and dynamics of a crisis in the first days after impact and to support the development of strategic humanitarian priorities. The MIRA informs and supports the design of subsequent needs assessments and analysis which are often more detailed and operational in focus.
Specifically, the MIRA supports these objectives by implementing a framework that will yield fundamental initial information on the needs of affected populations and the priorities for initial distribution of aid at the community level..."
Source/publisher:
Myanmar Information Management Unit (Myanmar) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-07-31
Date of entry/update:
2023-12-20
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
Format :
pdf pdf
Size:
172.36 KB 318.37 KB
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Description:
"Foreword
As we publish this 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP), escalating fighting, surging displacement and extreme protection threats are now impacting vast swathes of the country, compounding the devastating impacts of Cyclone Mocha in May, and placing the people of Myanmar in increasing peril.
Three years on from the military takeover, the humanitarian landscape for 2024 is grim with a third of the population – 18.6 million people – now estimated to be in humanitarian need. Children are bearing the brunt of the crisis with 6 million children in need as a result of displacement, interrupted health-care and education, food insecurity and malnutrition, and protection risks including forced recruitment and mental distress. The economic situation is placing families in increasing financial distress and coping capacities are stretched to the limit. Interruptions to agriculture and rapid inflation are making it increasingly difficult for people to access and afford adequate food, raising the spectre of climbing malnutrition. The health system is in crisis and millions are without safe shelter or drinking water.
Women, girls, persons with disabilities and stateless Rohingya people are among those impacted the most by this dangerous environment. Development gains are concurrently under extreme threat with poverty now back at levels not seen for 15 years.
This Plan paints a deeply disturbing picture that demands global attention and a dramatic increase in funding. Humanitarians require almost a billion dollars to reach 5.3 million people who have been prioritized for urgent assistance. We cannot afford a repeat of the gross underfunding seen in 2023 with only 29 per cent of requirements received. This lack of funding and severe access constraints meant that an estimated 1.9 million people who had been prioritized for support missed out on assistance altogether, while most of the 3.1 million people who were reached with some support did not receive the intended multi-sectoral assistance required to fully meet their needs. Brave aid workers – the majority of them local organizations on the front line of the response – remain committed to staying and delivering and have scaled-up wherever they can over the past three years. However, de-politicization of aid, as well as significantly expanded access and greatly increased funding will be critical to preventing the suffering of everyone prioritized for support in this Plan.
Complementary funding is also needed across the nexus to address the persistent growth in humanitarian needs. The absence of large-scale preventative and resilience-building interventions by the broader development community is placing unprecedented pressure on humanitarian caseloads. To reverse current humanitarian trends, greater funding is simultaneously needed in 2024 for broader community development.
We thank our generous donors for their ongoing solidarity with the people of Myanmar as needs continue to spiral. But in 2024, we need donors to dig deeper and speak louder to amplify the voices of affected people on the world stage. Millions of lives are at stake and we all must do everything we can to prevent Myanmar becoming a forgotten emergency..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-12-18
Date of entry/update:
2023-12-18
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Agriculture in Burma/Myanmar: general and research, Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
7.3 MB (95 pages) - Original version
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Description:
"Highlights:
• More than half a million people are estimated to have been newly displaced due to the escalation of armed conflict since 26 October, although figures are fluid due to returns and redisplacement, while communication challenges are making numbers difficult to verify. This adds to the 2 million people who were already displaced before the current escalation of violence.
• Fighting between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and various groups, including Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) and People’s Defence Forces (PDFs), persists in about twothirds of the country.
• Intense clashes have been reported in many townships across northern and southern Shan, Rakhine and Chin, Sagaing, Magway, Kayah, eastern Bago and Kayin in early December, causing further humanitarian needs and challenges.
• Despite insecurity, access, and telecommunication challenges, provision of essential humanitarian assistance to affected people continues where possible using a variety of flexible approaches by humanitarian responders and partners.
• In northern Shan, an estimated 85 per cent of the newly displaced population in northern Shan have received some form of basic humanitarian assistance at least once although this is not sufficient to fully meet their needs.
• Extensive needs and gaps remain in providing regular support to all people in need with displaced people in some parts of the country normally heavily reliant of humanitarian assistance for their survival.
• The UN and partners are exploring pathways to access a greater proportion of affected people, particularly at the China-Myanmar border.
• Key challenges include road closures, movement restrictions, as well as the safety and security of aid workers. The response is further complicated by a fuel crisis, serious banking issues, and soaring commodity prices.
• In Rakhine, high market prices and the scarcity of food and household items have added layers of hardship for entire populations and vulnerable communities, including internally displaced people (IDPs) who have been facing the consequences of years of conflict and the aftermath of Cyclone Mocha.
• The 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) is grossly under-funded with only 29 per cent of required funding received from the donor community. An urgent injection of support is critical to enable humanitarians to respond effectively and at-scale to the escalating needs in Myanmar..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-12-08
Date of entry/update:
2023-12-08
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
265.74 KB
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Description:
"Highlight:
Conflict between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and various groups, including Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) and People’s Defence Forces (PDFs), continues in many parts of the country.
More townships across the Northwest and Southeast have been affected by widening conflict, causing fresh displacement and civilian casualties.
More than half a million people in multiple states and regions have been newly displaced due to the escalation of fighting since 26 October. This adds to the 2 million people who were already displaced before the current escalation began.
Despite insecurity, access, and telecommunication challenges, small-scale provision of essential humanitarian assistance to affected people continues where possible using a variety of flexible approaches.
In northern Shan, an estimated 50,000 people displaced in Laukkaing township, on the border with China, have only been able to receive minimal assistance. Humanitarian partners are working to negotiate access and provide assistance.
Key transport routes in townships experiencing active fighting nationwide have been blocked both by the MAF and EAOs, restricting people’s movements to safer locations and hampering humanitarian access. Lashio and Loikaw airports remain closed.
In Rakhine, commodity prices are rising due to shortages of food and daily household items in local markets, caused by blockages of roads and waterways both within and into the state.
As of the end of 2023, the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for the year is only 29 per cent funded. An urgent injection of funding is critically needed to enable humanitarians to respond effectively and at-scale to the escalating needs. Provisional approval has been granted for a CERF Rapid Response Allocation of up to US$7 million to address needs generates by the recent escalation of conflict and surging displacement..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-12-01
Date of entry/update:
2023-12-01
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations
Language:
Format :
pdf pdf
Size:
194.55 KB 252.18 KB
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Description:
"OVERVIEW
Throughout the third quarter of 2023, Myanmar continued to grapple with a deepening humanitarian crisis marked by ongoing conflict, monsoon floods, and an alarming spread of explosive ordnance. The situation has led to unprecedented levels of displacement, extensive property damage, and the pervasive threat of landmines, especially in the Northwest and Southeast. By the end of the reporting period, close to 2 million people were internally displaced, facing elevated risks from high intensity conflict while navigating unfamiliar areas often contaminated by landmines and other explosive remnants of war. Displaced people continued to experience high to extreme levels of vulnerability with many living in informal sites without proper shelter or services. Many people are facing repeated displacement, depleting their resources with every movement. Pressure for the premature return of displaced people to their places of origin or third locations remains intense in some areas. In addition, severe monsoon weather exacerbated the situation, triggering floods mainly in the Northwest and Southeast, resulting in the destruction of civilian infrastructure and heightened needs.
Notwithstanding the above-mentioned formidable challenges, both local and international humanitarian partners have demonstrated resilience and commitment to staying and delivering, scaling up and adapting their efforts to address deepening needs. Over the first 9 months of 2023, these efforts resulted at least 2.5 million people receiving some form of assistance – a testament to the dedication of the 226 operational partners in Myanmar (up from 164 at the mid-year point). However, this assistance is not as deep, sustained, or multi-sectoral as planned and represents only half of the 5 million people prioritized for assistance. Access and administrative restrictions continued to pose significant obstacles, causing delays and postponements in relief efforts, exacerbating the suffering of affected and displaced populations. Throughout the period under review, the Food Security Cluster continued to push forward with its response to needs in affected areas, accounting for the highest proportion of people reached (1.7 million), followed by the Protection Cluster (1.5 million) and Education Cluster (1.1 million). The figures are based on self-reporting by partners and, while there has been an improvement in the number of organizations sharing information, some responses are still likely to be missed..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-11-28
Date of entry/update:
2023-11-29
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Human Rights and international relations
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
1.34 MB
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Description:
"Highlight:
• Conflict between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and various groups, including Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) and People’s Defence Forces (PDFs), continues in many parts of the country.
• Fighting has been particularly intense in northern Shan, Rakhine, Sagaing, Chin and Mandalay.
• In Rakhine, armed clashes have again escalated in Pauktaw township, where more than 20,000 people have been newly displaced to safer locations since mid-November. Access here is heavily constrained.
• As of 22 November, there are nearly 335,000 people in multiple states and regions who have been newly displaced as a result of the escalation of fighting since 26 October. More than 2 million people are now displaced nationwide.
• Key transport routes in townships with active fighting have been blocked both by the MAF and EAOs, restricting people’s movements to safer locations, as well as hampering humanitarian access. In addition to Lashio and Loikaw, the airport in Kale is now closed.
• Despite insecurity, access and telecommunication challenges, small-scale provision of essential humanitarian assistance to affected people continues where possible using a variety of flexible approaches.
• While the US$1 million from the Myanmar Humanitarian Fund is being disbursed to local actors to support those responding to emerging needs in northern Shan, needs in the Northwest, Southeast and Rakhine are increasing by the day and require immediate response. Urgent additional donor support is critical given the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan remains severely underfunded with only 28 per cent of requirements received this year.
Situation Overview
Intense hostilities continue between the MAF and various armed groups, including EAOs and PDFs, across multiple states and regions. Nearly 335,000 people have been newly displaced within northern and southern Shan, Kayah, Rakhine, Chin,
Sagaing, Mandalay, eastern Bago, Kayin, Mon, and Tanintharyi due to the surge in conflict since late October. This displacement is creating urgent needs for immediate and ongoing support to both newly displaced and protracted IDP populations, as well as host communities. In addition, almost 200 civilians, including men, women, and children, have reportedly died and 263 others have been injured in the fighting and related insecurity.
Northern Shan
• In northern Shan, fighting continues in several townships, resulting in significant civilian casualties (48 fatalities and 136 injuries reported). More than 320 houses and other civilian properties have reportedly been damaged or destroyed in 6 townships. As of 22 November, the number of new IDPs from the current fighting has risen to nearly 82,000 people who are now taking refuge in 141 sites across 15 townships. Most of the displaced people are staying in religious compounds including monasteries and churches, while others are sheltering in host communities, forested areas or paddy fields along the China-Myanmar border in northern Shan, as well as in Pyin Oo Lwin township in Mandalay and in Mansi township in Kachin.
• Partners are actively delivering essential aid, including cash, food, and healthcare, to those in need, where access has been possible. Humanitarian assistance has reached about half of the IDPs however, there remains a gap in humanitarian support for some locations in Namhkan, Nawnghkio, Mansi and Pyin Oo Lwin townships due to security situation and access restrictions. In Laukkaing township, 30,000 people, who have been displaced on the border with China, have only been able to receive minimal assistance. Partners are managing to transport some supplies to Lashio, though there is still a high unmet need for cash, food, health supplies, shelter materials, NFIs, and dignity kits among the new IDPs.
Rakhine
• Intensified fighting between the MAF and the Arakan Army (AA) in Pauktaw township in central Rakhine, has escalated since the AA's offensive on 21 November. The clashes, involving ground artillery, naval, and air strikes, have left control of the area uncertain. An artillery shell landed near a Rohingya IDP camp in Pauktaw township without causing any casualties. Nearly 20,000 people from Pauktaw town and nearby villages have been displaced to northern Pauktaw and the southern island, the latter of which also hosts 26,000 Rohingya IDPs from the 2012 violence who have been cut off from aid since 10 November. Approximately 100 civilians were reportedly rescued by the AA from Pauktaw town on 22 November, while around 500 remain trapped in the downtown area. Pauktaw is currently inaccessible, with entry points blocked. Urgent humanitarian and protection assistance, including food, cash, water purification tablets, fuel, emergency healthcare, and medical supplies, is needed. There are ongoing advocacy efforts to secure humanitarian access to the newly displaced, including in Pauktaw, and resume services to those in Rohingya IDP camps.
Northwest
• In the Northwest, armed clashes between the MAF and EAOs/PDFs have escalated since late October in 25 townships across Sagaing, Chin, and Mandalay, causing further displacement and civilian casualties. Approximately 33,000 people are newly displaced from Madaya in Mandalay, Matupi in Chin, and Kale and Taze in Sagaing, contributing to the nearly 150,000 people who have been displaced since early November. These hostilities are thought to have resulted in 60 civilian deaths, 16 injuries including children, and the destruction of 74 houses in Chin, Mandalay, and Sagaing. Reports of arbitrary arrests in Myaing in Magway and Madaya in Mandalay have been received, with fears of detainees being used as porters in military operations. Humanitarian access is hindered by ongoing fighting, roadblocks, and movement restrictions in multiple townships. Kale Airport in Sagaing closed on 21 November following an explosion the previous day, with no reopening date announced. The region faces a fuel crisis, particularly in Kale and Tamu townships, and banking issues pose additional challenges for humanitarian efforts..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-11-23
Date of entry/update:
2023-11-23
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations
Language:
Format :
pdf pdf
Size:
215.25 KB 269.05 KB
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Description:
"MYANMAR
Since the surge in armed conflict between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and various Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) in northern Shan on 26 October, fighting has expanded across numerous states and regions. The escalation is now the largest in scale and most extensive geographically since the early 2021 military takeover, impacting multiple areas, particularly northern and southern Shan, Sagaing, Kayah, Rakhine, and southern Chin. The fighting has led to an alarming rise in displacement with more than 286,000 people fleeing their homes since the intensification began less than a month ago. The total number of displaced people across Myanmar now exceeds two million. The conflict has severely disrupted key transport routes, impeding civilian movement and the delivery of humanitarian aid. The most urgent humanitarian needs among affected people are cash, food, safe shelter, non-food items and hygiene kits, basic health services and protection support. Faith and community-based organizations, as well as civil society partners, in collaboration with other humanitarian actors, continue to provide critical and lifesaving assistance to displaced and affected communities wherever access is possible using flexible approaches..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-11-22
Date of entry/update:
2023-11-22
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
2.37 MB
Local URL:
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Description:
"Highlight
The conflict between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and various groups, including Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) and People’s Defence Forces (PDFs), remains intense in many parts of the country.
The escalation is now the largest in scale and most extensive geographically since the early 2021 military takeover, impacting multiple areas, particularly northern and southern Shan, Sagaing, Kayah, Rakhine, and southern Chin.
As of 21 November, there are more than 286,000 people who have been displaced as a result of the intensification of fighting since 26 October.
The security situation in Pauktaw township in Rakhine remains alarming, where more than 20,000 people have been displaced to safer locations within the township since mid-November and hundreds of people have also been trapped and have not been able to move to safer areas.
Key transport routes in townships with active fighting have been blocked both by the MAF and EAOs, restricting people’s movements to safer locations, as well as hampering humanitarian access.
Despite insecurity, access and telecommunication challenges, provision of essential humanitarian assistance to affected people continues in northern Shan using a variety of flexible approaches. Humanitarian partners in the Northwest, Southeast and Rakhine are assessing new needs to respond to the fluid situation. Various preparedness measures, including the pre-positioning of stocks, are ongoing.
While the US$1 million from the Myanmar Humanitarian Fund is being disbursed to local actors to support those responding to emerging needs in northern Shan, needs in the Northwest, Southeast and Rakhine are increasing by the day and require immediate response. Urgent additional donor support is critical given the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan remains severely underfunded with only 28 per cent of requirements received this year.
Situation Overview
Intense hostilities continue between the MAF and various armed groups, including EAOs and People’s Defence Forces (PDFs), across multiple states and regions. This escalation is the largest and most geographically widespread since the 2021 military takeover. Armed clashes have expanded into more areas, including densely populated urban centres, posing a heightened risk to the safety and security of civilian populations across the country.
More than 286,000 people have been newly displaced within northern and southern Shan, Kayah, Rakhine, Chin, Sagaing, Mandalay, eastern Bago, Kayin, Mon, and Tanintharyi due to the recent surge in conflict. This displacement represents a significant humanitarian concern, with urgent needs for immediate and ongoing support to both newly displaced and protracted IDP populations, as well as host communities. In addition, 187 civilians, including men, women, and children, have reportedly died and 246 others have been injured..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-11-21
Date of entry/update:
2023-11-21
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations
Language:
Format :
pdf pdf
Size:
219.63 KB 275.99 KB
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Description:
"Highlight:
Armed hostilities have escalated in Rakhine State in the past two days, particularly in Pauktaw and Maungdaw townships, and in Paletwa, Chin State.
The Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) have conducted an operation in Pauktaw with air and naval support to reestablish control after the Arakan Army (AA) temporarily took the town on 15 November.
Despite the absence of direct clashes, there have been reports of MAF shelling in AA-controlled areas in Kyauktaw,
Minbya, Mrauk-U, Myebon, Sittwe, and Ponnagyun townships.
Since 13 November, 11 deaths and over 30 injuries have been reported. Additionally, more than 100 people have reportedly been detained by the MAF/State Administration Council.
As of 16 November, the overall number of internally displaced people (IDPs) due to past and present conflict between the AA and the MAF in Rakhine and Paletwa has risen to some 90,000, including more than 26,000 people newly displaced since the ceasefire broke. This is in addition to 150,000 mostly Rohingya people displaced in Rakhine as a result of long-running inter-communal tensions.
Key transport routes and waterways between Sittwe-Yangon and within various townships have been restricted, impacting civilian movement and the delivery of humanitarian aid. Humanitarian assistance has been suspended for several days, with limited access being provided to select locations amid the intensified fighting.
Situation Overview
The MAF and the AA resumed hostilities on 13 November, disrupting the relative calm that followed the informal ceasefire established in November 2022. The recent conflict began in Rathedaung township, where the AA is reported to have attacked two Border Guard Police (BGP) posts near the Maungdaw township border. Hostilities have since spread to the townships of Maungdaw, Kyauktaw, Minbya, Pauktaw, Ponnagyun, and Paletwa. Reports indicate artillery shelling from MAF bases in various townships, predominantly at night. The MAF has also employed naval forces to launch artillery strikes on AA-controlled territories. Local sources have confirmed at least 11 fatalities and more than 30 injuries due to the shelling in Maungdaw, Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw, Minbya, and Ann townships.
The MAF/SAC have increased security measures across the region, including the establishment of additional checkpoints and roadblocks, and conducting household searches to identify suspected AA sympathizers. More than 100 people in Rakhine have been arrested by the MAF/SAC since 13 November. Meanwhile, the AA detained five people, including two in police uniform, in Ponnagyun, suspecting they were en route to Sittwe by boat. Additionally, a curfew from 9 pm to 6 am has been implemented in Sittwe.
The ongoing clashes have resulted in the displacement of 26,175 people (4,765 households) across Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Minbya, Mrauk-U, Myebon, Ponnagyun, Pauktaw, and Rathedaung townships. Of these, the largest number - 19,000 people - are from Pauktaw. This displacement adds to the existing situation where 63,884 internally displaced persons (IDPs) were already affected by earlier AA-MAF conflict, along with approximately 150,000 predominantly Rohingya IDPs in Sittwe and Pauktaw from past inter-communal tension. Rural communities, in particular, are living in fear of escalating violence, and there is a high likelihood that the newly displaced will seek refuge in existing urban displacement sites if the situation worsens. The non-displaced Rohingya population - already facing limited mobility - is at risk of further confinement in their villages.
Since 13 November, virtually all roads and waterways connecting Rakhine townships have been blocked, severely restricting movements, including the transportation of goods and trade. In affected townships in Rakhine and Paletwa, most humanitarian activities have been suspended due to the resurgence of conflict, increased security scrutiny, road and waterway blockades, and movement restrictions between urban and rural areas. Services provided by camp-based staff, community-based staff, and volunteers continue in areas without active conflict. However, activities requiring the movement of supplies, staff, or patients, such as health emergency referral services, have ceased due to stringent movement restrictions..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-11-17
Date of entry/update:
2023-11-17
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Human Rights and international relations
Language:
Format :
pdf pdf
Size:
91.27 KB 181.11 KB
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Description:
"This regular update, covering humanitarian developments up to 8 November, is produced by OCHA Myanmar in collaboration with the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group and UN agencies. Response figures are based on self-reporting by organizations to clusters. The next humanitarian update will be issued end of November 2023.
HIGHLIGHTS & KEY MESSAGES
A combination of active conflict, monsoon floods, and access barriers is worsening the humanitarian situation facing vulnerable communities nationwide.
A new front of conflict has intensified in Northern Shan where fighting between Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) and the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) has displaced almost 50,000 people since 26 October.
More than two million people are now internally displaced nationwide, many of them multiple times, eroding their coping capacity with each move.
Relentless monsoon floods, especially in the Southeast, have caused severe economic and agricultural losses, exacerbating an already critical humanitarian situation as a result of conflict.
Administrative and physical restrictions are amplifying suffering by delaying or forcing the cancellation of aid deliveries.
Local and international humanitarian partners remain committed to staying and delivering, reaching at least 2.5 million people by end of September 2023.
The combined US$887 million Humanitarian Response Plan and Cyclone Mocha Flash Appeals remain critically underfunded, with only 28 per cent of the required funding received.
Immediate additional financial assistance and the easing of access restrictions are imperative for the humanitarian community to address urgent needs.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
Active conflict, monsoon floods, underfunding and restrictions on humanitarian activities are contributing to deteriorating living situations for vulnerable communities, including internally displaced people. More than two million people remain internally displaced nationwide, with many having experienced repeated displacement. Displaced families are enduring precarious conditions while they are on the move, often seeking refuge in the jungle without proper shelter. Almost half of the country's population is estimated to be living in poverty and an estimated 12.9 million people are estimated to be severely or moderately food insecure. Affected people are facing heightened protection risks, particularly due to contamination by explosive ordnance, including landmines.
This multifaceted crisis has not only deepened the needs of vulnerable groups but has also severely restricted their access to essential services and humanitarian assistance. Relief efforts of both local and international humanitarian organizations have been obstructed. In the face of these formidable obstacles, partners remain resolute in their commitment to assisting those in need. By the end of September, they had reached at least 2.5 million people, responding to escalating needs through diverse and flexible access approaches, including growing numbers of people in the Northwest and an expanded proportion of IDPs. However, despite escalating needs, the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and the Cyclone Mocha Flash Appeal remain severely underfunded, leaving thousands of desperate communities without the vital support they require..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-11-10
Date of entry/update:
2023-11-10
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
630.72 KB
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Description:
"Highlights
Intense fighting, including artillery shelling and airstrikes, has continued in several townships in northern Shan since the attack by an alliance of Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) and others against military and police bases on 26 October 2023, causing additional civilian casualties and displacement.
As of 9 November, almost 50,000 people in northern Shan were forced into displacement in religious compounds with relatives. Many have also moved towards the border with China and others are still trying to cross.
Key routes into Lashio township remain blocked both by the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and by EAOs, and all travel routes to northern Shan remain restricted.
Phone and internet services have been disrupted outside Lashio township and the main airport in Lashio remains closed hindering people’s movement, humanitarian access and communications with people in need.
Fighting has also escalated in the Northwest in early November. About 40,000 people have been subsequently displaced due to active fighting in the Northwest.
In northern Shan, faith-based organizations, community-based organizations (CBOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs), in collaboration with humanitarian partners, continue to provide basic essential humanitarian assistance.
US$1 million from the Myanmar Humanitarian Fund will be disbursed to support those responding to emerging needs in northern Shan. This support is, however, insufficient to meet the surge in needs.
A halt in clashes and unimpeded access by all parties are critical to ensuring the delivery of timely, life-saving services to people in need.
Situation Overview
Intense fighting has continued between the MAF and various EAOs, as well as People's Defense Forces (PDFs) across multiple townships in northern Shan since 26 October, leading to additional civilian casualties and surging displacement. Fighting escalated following a series of attacks on MAF and police bases by a coalition of EAOs—namely the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and the Arakan Army (AA), calling themselves the ‘Three Brotherhood Alliance.’ Consequently, 17 civilians were reportedly killed and 39 were injured, while at least 200 civilian houses were reportedly damaged in 6 townships. Two weeks on, nearly 50,000 people have reportedly been displaced and are currently sheltering in 100 locations in religious compounds or with relatives across 10 townships in northern Shan. According to media reports, several hundred people reportedly crossed the border into China because of ongoing fighting and many others are still trying to cross, but partners can not verify exact numbers.
Key roads to Lashio town have either been closed or blocked by the EAOs or the MAF causing shortages of essential items and price hikes. Major transport routes have been cut off, including the strategic Lashio-Muse highway, leading to a healthcare access crisis that is already reported to have resulted in several deaths. Phone and internet services have been disrupted outside Lashio township and the main airport in Lashio remains closed hindering people’s movement, humanitarian access and communications with people in need. On November 6, a bomb allegedly planted by an EAO exploded at the privately owned CB Bank in Lashio. This incident severely disrupted the bank's operations, leading to all commercial banks reducing operations to only three hours a day. Consequently, there is a significant reduction in the availability of cash in the region. The mobile money application ‘KBZ PAY’ is currently offering limited services, and the only other available mobile banking option, 'WeChat,' operates exclusively along the Myanmar-China border, not in the main urban areas of Lashio. As a result, prices of basic commodities are on the rise. The increasing price of basic commodities as a result of transport and cash flow challenges will further diminish the purchasing power of cash-based assistance provided by humanitarian partners.
In addition, an escalation in fighting has also been reported since early November across multiple townships in the Northwest. On 3 November, the joint forces of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the Arakan Army (AA), the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF), as well as local PDFs launched coordinated attacks against MAF bases and security positions in Homalin, Kale, Kalewa, Kawlin, Kyunhla, Wuntho, and Tamu townships in Sagaing, as well as Gangaw township in Magway. Intense fighting with airstrikes and artillery shelling occurred in Kawlin town, culminating in the joint forces reportedly seizing the town from the MAF on 6 November. According to local media, approximately 50,000 people from Kawlin town initially fled their homes to safer locations due to the heavy fighting during the first week of November. As of 9 November, 40,000 people remain displaced, while about 10,000 people have returned home. Humanitarian partners are closely monitoring the security situation and trying to verify the exact number and locations of the newly displaced people as well as their needs to provide appropriate assistance..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-11-09
Date of entry/update:
2023-11-09
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations
Language:
Format :
pdf pdf
Size:
363.93 KB 357.62 KB
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Description:
"Format: Map.....Theme: Shelter and Non-Food Items..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-11-03
Date of entry/update:
2023-11-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Burma: Internal displacement/forced migration of several ethnic groups., Internal displacement/forced migration of Kachin, Internal displacement/forced migration of Shan. Palaung and Wa villagers
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
617.51 KB
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Description:
"Format: Map.....Theme: Shelter and Non-Food Items..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-11-03
Date of entry/update:
2023-11-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Internal displacement/forced migration of Kachin
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
1.97 MB
Local URL:
more
Description:
"Format: Map.....Theme: Shelter and Non-Food Items..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-11-03
Date of entry/update:
2023-11-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Internal displacement/forced migration of Shan. Palaung and Wa villagers
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
2.63 MB
Local URL:
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Description:
"Highlight
The armed conflict that began on 26 October between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF), various ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), and People’s Defense Forces continues to escalate, significantly impacting the Northeast and Southeast regions of the country.
Some 25,700 individuals in Northern Shan, Bago East and Kayin have reportedly been newly displaced.
In Northern Shan, armed clashes in at least nine out of 22 townships have resulted in a surge of newly displaced persons and mounting humanitarian needs.
In Northern Shan, the total number of internally displaced people (IDPs) now stands at over 37,400, with a recent surge of over 23,000 due to the escalation in fighting. This is on top of the 14,470 IDPs previously displaced, straining an already underresourced humanitarian response.
Essential transit routes connecting Northern Shan to China are currently obstructed by the MAF and EAOs checkpoints, and at least one vital bridge has been destroyed. Additionally, northern Shan, Bago East and Kayin have faced extensive disruptions in mobile data and telecommunication services across numerous areas.
In Northern Shan, faith-based organizations and host communities are offering immediate, basic lifesaving assistance, such as shelter, food, and water. Various humanitarian partners, alongside host communities and private donors, have extended cash assistance, basic food supplies, and essential relief items to the newly displaced.
The support provided, however, has been insufficient to address the growing needs, while access remains extremely restricted..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-11-02
Date of entry/update:
2023-11-02
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Human Rights and international relations
Language:
Format :
pdf pdf
Size:
365.23 KB 348.54 KB
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Description:
"Highlight
• Fighting between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and various ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) intensified in northern Shan after a series of assaults launched by the “Three Brotherhood Alliance” against military and police bases on the night of 26 October.
• Most intense clashes occurred in Chinshwehaw, Hseni, Kutkai, Kyaukme, Lashio, Laukkaing, Namhkan, and Muse townships in northern Shan, causing civilian casualties and widespread displacement.
• On the same day, the joint forces of the Karen National Liberation Army and People’s Defense Forces attacked several MAF’s bases in Kawkareik township in Kayin.
• Vital routes north from Lashio, the capital city of northern Shan, have been severely restricted by the MAF and EAOs, and mobile communication services have been disrupted. Lashio airport will remain closed until at least 3 November, according to airport authorities. These hindrances are hugely impacting people's mobility, humanitarian access, and communication with affected communities.
• As of 30 October, over 6,200 individuals have reportedly been newly displaced, seeking refuge in nearby forests or religious compounds within northern Shan. Additionally, several hundred people have reportedly crossed the border into China in search of safety.
• Host communities and private donors have provided the newly displaced people with basic food and other essential relief items.
• Humanitarian partners, including the UN, INGOs and local partners, in northern Shan have existing prepositioned relief supplies and stand prepared to respond promptly once security and access improves. In the Southeast, humanitarian partners are currently verifying the number of displaced people and their humanitarian needs to respond accordingly.
• The situation remains fluid with ongoing clashes. While the exact number of the newly displaced people are difficult to verify, the displaced are expected to further increase, stretching the already under-funded humanitarian response in Myanmar.
• The situation in the rest of the country will also need to be closely monitored. The Arakan Army, which is part of the Three Brotherhood Alliance, has maintained the temporary ceasefire with the MAF in Rakhine since November 2022.
Situation Overview
Over the past days, the security situation in northern Shan and the Southeast deteriorated significantly due to escalating fighting between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and various ethnic armed organizations. In a statement issued on 27 October, the Three Brotherhood Alliance in northern Shan, composed of three ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) – the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and the Arakan Army (AA) – announced that they launched attacks against MAF positions and police outposts in northern Shan. Intense gunfire, artillery shelling, and aerial assaults have been reported in 8 out of 22 townships in northern Shan since then. Consequently, seven civilians, including two children, were allegedly killed, and nine civilians, including a child, were injured in Chinshwehaw, Hseni, Kutkai, Lashio, and Namhkan townships.
Moreover, at least more than 6,200 people have been displaced in Hseni, Kutkai, Kyaukme, Lashio, and Muse townships, with around 1,000 of them seeking refuge in forests and more than 5,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) taking shelter in temporary sites, mostly religious compounds.
Unverified reports suggest that approximately 500 people from Chinshwehaw town in Laukkaing township fled across the border to China for safety. There are indications that the number of people fleeing into China is increasing.
Domestic flights to Lashio were suspended from 27 October to 3 November, according to airport authorities, and roads from north of Lashio to access the displaced people remain blocked by both the MAF and EAOs. Mobile communication and data services remain severely limited in Hseni, Kutkai, Muse, Namhkan townships, and Kokang Self-Administered Zone. Additionally, electricity was cut off in Kutkai township due to the destruction of power lines during the fighting.
Attacks by the joint forces of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) against MAF positions were also reported in Kawkareik township in Kayin on 27 October. The fighting has since persisted, particularly in and around Kawkareik town along the Asia Highway Road, disrupting the main transportation route between Myanmar and Thailand. There have been reports of two fatalities and two injuries from artillery shelling in Kawkareik town. Residents of Kawkareik and Kyondoe towns, and nearby villages have been fleeing their homes to safer locations in Kawkareik, Hpa-an, and Hlaingbwe townships. The exact number of newly displaced people is still being verified..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-10-30
Date of entry/update:
2023-10-30
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Food Security and displacement in Burma, Human Rights and international relations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
231.12 KB
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Description:
"Changes in context
Almost three years since the February 2021 military takeover, the people of Myanmar remain exposed to an unrelenting political, human rights, economic and humanitarian crisis. The dire situation is posing grave protection risks for civilians, limiting access to vital services including health and education, and driving deep food insecurity. The deteriorating humanitarian situation continues to have severe consequences for millions of civilians who are bearing the brunt of widespread insecurity, escalating attacks and clashes, mass displacement, and limited access to critical services. Forced recruitment – including of children – is being increasingly reported. The use of heavy weapons, including air strikes and artillery fire, continues to claim lives and pose risks to the safety and security of civilians, while raids, random searches and arrests are of grave concern. The destruction of civilian properties, particularly homes, combined with the protracted fighting, is prolonging the displacement of IDPs and further degrading people’s already fragile living conditions. The ongoing conflict combined with spiraling inflation, is disrupting livelihood activities and depleting coping mechanisms, resulting in record humanitarian needs this year.
In May, the situation was further exacerbated by extremely severe cyclone Mocha, the worst natural disaster on record for Myanmar in nearly a decade. The cyclone and the ensuing flooding devastated communities across Rakhine, the Northwest and Kachin with thousands of homes, productive assets, vast swathes of farmland, and critical infrastructure such as hospitals and schools destroyed or severely damaged. It added an additional 500,000 people to the humanitarian target for 2023 (now 5 million people) and worsened the needs of 1.1 million people already targeted within the HRP..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-10-17
Date of entry/update:
2023-10-17
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Agriculture in Burma/Myanmar: general and research, Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
1.52 MB
more
Description:
"HIGHLIGHTS & KEY MESSAGES
Ongoing conflict and monsoon floods continue to cause new displacement, civilian casualties, and destruction of civilian properties, further worsening the already dire humanitarian situation in Myanmar.
Nearly two million people are now internally displaced in precarious conditions and require lifesaving assistance.
The threat to civilians from explosive ordnance is spreading with new data showing that for the first time, landmine casualties have now been recorded in every state and region, except Nay Pyi Taw.
Local and international humanitarian partners continue to scale up and adapt in response to the deepening needs, reaching at least 1.8 million people during the first half of 2023.
Access and administrative restrictions are causing prolonged delays or postponements of scheduled relief efforts, further compounding the suffering of affected and displaced communities.
To date, the combined US$887 million Humanitarian Response Plan and Cyclone Mocha Flash Appeals remain critically underfunded, with only 28 per cent of the required funding received.
Provision of additional financial support and easing of access restrictions are imperative for the humanitarian community to address urgent needs.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
Nine months into 2023, humanitarian needs and protection risks have intensified throughout the country, driven by persistent conflict that has led to unprecedented levels of displacement, extensive property damage, and the expanding presence of landmines, particularly in the Northwest and Southeast. The United Nations Development Programme’s Myanmar Information Management Unit (MIMU), in collaboration with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), has produced its annual map for 2023 of townships with suspected contamination by anti-personnel landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW). Since 2021, for the first time, contamination by anti-personnel landmines has been reported in all states and regions except Nay Pyi Taw.
Now, the latest data reveals that casualties due to landmines have occurred in every state and region of Myanmar, except Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon.
Nearly two million people remain internally displaced across the country – many of them multiple times. They face increase risks from explosive ordnance while they are on the move or staying in unfamiliar areas. In addition, more than 63,000 people remain displaced across borders into neighbouring countries since the 2021 military takeover.
Humanitarian partners are increasingly concerned about the SAC’s gradual implementation of the national IDP camp closure policy with many people being pushed to return to their places of origin or other locations even where this is against their wishes and is premature given the current security conditions. During the reporting period, approximately 100 out of 500 displaced families living in sites slated for camp closure in Kyauktaw township in Rakhine in 2023, had to return to their places of origin. The remaining IDPs face pressure to return by the end of the rainy season.
Displaced families who were moved from the Kyauk Ta Lone IDP camp in Kyaukpyu township to a nearby relocation site, have been facing persistent flooding issues. In total, more than 50,000 IDPs nationwide are estimated to be at risk of premature return in 2023, particularly in Rakhine, Chin and Shan. They face potential protection concerns, lack of livelihood opportunities, absence of social services, and inadequate shelter in villages affected by conflict. Many IDPs are expressing fears about safety in their home villages in conflict areas where there is often ongoing fighting and significant explosive ordnance contamination. Sustained access to those who have been prematurely returned, reclassified or relocated by the State Administration Council under this policy remains crucial so that conditions and needs can be monitored, and assistance is not interrupted. Humanitarians continue to stress that any return, relocation, or reclassification of IDPs from displacement camps and sites must be safe, voluntary, informed and dignified, taking into account the wishes of affected people and the prospects for sustainable solutions that allow them to resume their normal lives.
Severe monsoon weather conditions also persist, triggering floods in multiple areas, mostly in the Northwest and Southeast, resulting in the destruction of civilian infrastructure, displacement and new humanitarian needs. Thousands of people sought refuge in evacuation centres or safer areas on higher ground in August, with most of them returning to their homes in September. Nevertheless, many remain in need of support as they have lost their homes and belongings due to flooding. Local and international partners have extended immediate assistance wherever access is possible.
Suffering is being exacerbated by significant access constraints, despite sporadic openings in some areas in recent months. Administrative and physical access limitations have intensified in the Southeast and Kachin, curtailing people's ability to access critical services and impeding the distribution of aid to affected communities. In the face of these formidable challenges, at least 1.8 million people received humanitarian assistance in the first half of the year2.
However, the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and Cyclone Mocha Flash Appeal remain severely underfunded, with only a fraction (27 per cent) of the total requirement secured. This shortfall jeopardizes comprehensive assistance delivery and negatively impacts vulnerable communities. Urgent and substantial funding is essential to alleviate suffering and enhance the resilience of the affected communities amid this multifaceted crisis..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-10-02
Date of entry/update:
2023-10-02
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations
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"MYANMAR:
Severe weather conditions continue to trigger floods in multiple areas, compounding the already precarious living conditions of people affected by ongoing armed clashes which continue across the country. In Sagaing, approximately 1,000 people from 6 wards in Kale town were relocated to safer locations on 8 September due to flooding. In the Southeast, although some of the 80,000 people affected by the August floods have now returned to their homes, a significant number remain displaced and in urgent need of assistance. Access constraints have increased, notably in the Southeast and Kachin, further restricting people’s access to vital services and hindering the delivery of assistance to affected communities.
Despite these challenges, more than 1.8 million out of 5 million people targeted in 2023 have been reached with humanitarian assistance in the first half of the year..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-09-19
Date of entry/update:
2023-09-19
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Flooding in Burma/Myanmar, Human Rights and international relations
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pdf
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2.29 MB
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"This regular update, covering humanitarian developments up to 25 August, is produced by OCHA Myanmar in collaboration with the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group and UN agencies. Response figures are based on self-reporting by organizations to clusters. The next humanitarian update will be issued in September 2023.
HIGHLIGHTS & KEY MESSAGES
Ongoing conflict and natural disasters have resulted in new displacement, civilian casualties, and destruction of civilian properties, intensifying the already fragile humanitarian situation in Myanmar.
More than 1.9 million people are now internally displaced in precarious conditions and requiring lifesaving assistance.
Heavy monsoon rainfall has triggered flooding in Rakhine and in the Southeast where more than 80,000 people have been affected since early August.
Transportation and distribution plans for the cyclone response in Rakhine have been approved and some relief items have been distributed. However, the overall humanitarian needs of cyclone-affected communities remain high and more assistance is still needed.
Humanitarian access restrictions have increased, notably in the Southeast and Kachin, further hindering timely and efficient aid delivery to affected and displaced communities.
Easing of access restrictions and provision of financial support are imperative for the humanitarian community to address urgent needs.
Eight months into 2023, the combined US$887 million Humanitarian Response Plan and Cyclone Mocha Flash Appeals remain critically underfunded, with only 25 per cent of the required funding received.
The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, visited Myanmar from 14 to 17 August to raise awareness of the situation in Myanmar and advocate for both expanded space for humanitarian operations and the removal of bureaucratic obstacles.
KEY FIGURES
1.9M total people currently internally displaced across Myanmar
1.6M people currently displaced by clashes and insecurity since February 2021
306K people who remain internally displaced due to conflict prior to February 2021, mainly in Rakhine, Kachin, Chin, and Shan
75K civilian properties estimated burnt or destroyed since February 2021
SITUATION OVERVIEW
Natural disasters have continued to impact Myanmar adding another challenge on top of active conflict, leading to an increase in displacement and additional hardship for affected people. Simultaneously, bureaucratic, and physical barriers continue to hinder humanitarian partners' access to those in need, often posing safety and security risks for frontline aid workers. In Rakhine, regular humanitarian programming continues but the specific humanitarian cyclone response remains limited in scope. In August, the de facto authorities approved the transportation and distribution plans for cyclone-related assistance to Rakhine that UN agencies and INGOs re-submitted in early July for a second time. Initial distributions of existing relief items in Sittwe to cyclone-affected communities have been approved and food has been distributed to 12 villages during the reporting period with more expected to follow.
As part of ongoing advocacy at all levels for greater humanitarian access in conflict-affected areas, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. Martin Griffiths, visited Myanmar from 14 to 17 August and met with various stakeholders in Nay Pyi Taw. During his mission, he also visited Rakhine and met with Rakhine and Rohingya communities affected by both conflict and disaster, emphasizing the importance of placing people at the center of humanitarian action and urging the removal of all access restrictions for humanitarian partners.
Despite the ongoing operational challenges and financial limitations, Myanmar's humanitarian community remains steadfast in its commitment to stay and deliver aid based on need. The 2023 Mid-Year HRP Dashboard (Jan-Jun 2023) highlights that more than 1.8 million people have been reached with humanitarian assistance in the first half of the year. However, the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and Cyclone Mocha Flash Appeal remain severely underfunded at only 25 percent of the total requirement, undermining the provision of comprehensive assistance and adversely impacting vulnerable communities. Urgent and more generous funding is pivotal to alleviate suffering and enhance resilience of the people in the face of this multidimensional crisis..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-09-08
Date of entry/update:
2023-09-08
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations
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"OVERVIEW
The humanitarian crisis in Myanmar deteriorated significantly throughout the first half of 2023. Escalating clashes and attacks have had dire consequences for millions of civilians who are enduring widespread insecurity and aerial bombardment, mass displacement, and limited access to critical services, including health. In May, the situation was further exacerbated by extremely severe cyclone Mocha, the worst natural disaster in Myanmar in over a decade. The cyclone devastated communities across Rakhine, the Northwest and Kachin with thousands of homes, productive assets, vast swathes of farmland, and critical infrastructure such as hospitals and schools destroyed or severely damaged. Cyclone Mocha rolled back some limited gains of recent years especially around agriculture and livelihoods, and added an additional 500,000 people to the humanitarian target for 2023 (now 5 million people). The first half of 2023 also saw surging inflation nationwide that further disrupted livelihood activities and depleted coping capacity, leaving more people than ever needing humanitarian assistance.
Between January and June 2023 alone, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) climbed to nearly 1.9 million (as of end of June) up from just over 1.5 million in late December 2022, increasing needs and further stretching already lean humanitarian resources. The spike in displacement aligns with a surge in conflict during the first half of the year, with the Northwest and Southeast being most affected. Humanitarian operations and personnel were also targeted or heavily affected by conflict, bureaucratic impediments and restrictions. Between January and June, humanitarian organizations reported about 630 access incidents across the country (60 per cent of which occurred in Q2), impeding the delivery of vital assistance and services to affected people particularly in Rakhine, the Northwest and Southeast regions.
Despite multiple challenges in the operating context and severe underfunding, humanitarian partners have continued to rapidly scale up in response to the deepening needs, reaching at least 1.8 million people during the first half of 2023. This represents 36 per cent of the 5 million people targeted for assistance through the combined 2023 HRP and Cyclone Mocha Flash Appeal. However, this assistance is not as deep, sustained, or multi-sectoral as planned due to access blockages and this is a major impediment to addressing needs. The Food Security Cluster accounts for the highest proportion of the reported mid-year result (about 1.2 million) followed by the Protection (more than 929,000) and WASH Clusters (around 637,000). These figures are based on self-reporting by partners and the number of operational partners, particularly local organizations who are reporting, has now jumped to 208 (up from 156 in Q1). Despite this improvement, some response efforts are still likely to be missed in these calculations.
The coverage of the response reflects the prioritization of the most vulnerable groups, particularly IDPs and ‘non-displaced stateless people’, with partners collectively reaching 42 per cent of the targets for these population groups. The reach for the ‘other crisis-affected people’ and ‘returned, resettled, and locally integrated IDPs’ is much lower at 33 per cent and 10 per cent respectively. Despite the multiple constraints and impediments, partners have prioritized and marginally scaled up responses across some of the areas of highest needs in Rakhine, the Southeast (Kayah, Kayin), and the Northwest (Chin, Magway, Sagaing), and northern Shan during the first half of the year.
The 2023 HRP remains drastically underfunded, with only 20 per cent of the requirements received by the end of June, according to FTS (22 per cent funded as of August). This dire funding situation is despite the deepening needs, the surge in displacement, cyclone Mocha impacts, and soaring inflation that have further stretched the grossly insufficient resources across clusters. Heading into the second half of the year, partners will be forced to further reduce coverage and packages of assistance if immediate and sufficient funding is not received, leaving large numbers of vulnerable households without the critical services and support they need to survive..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-08-31
Date of entry/update:
2023-08-31
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Public Health, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Human Rights and international relations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
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992.73 KB
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"MYANMAR
Ongoing fighting in several states and regions across the country has resulted in additional new displacement and an increase in humanitarian needs, particularly in Kachin, Mandalay, and the Northwest. In Kachin, continued armed clashes and heavy military deployment have forced another 200 families (more than 1,100 people) in Shwegu township into displacement, bringing the total number of newly internally displaced people (IDPs) in this township to nearly 20,000 since early March 2023. In Mandalay, nearly 10,000 people have been displaced since mid-July due to continued fighting in Thabeikkyin township and are especially in urgent need of food and healthcare. In the Northwest, more than 7,150 IDPs in four townships in Sagaing are in urgent need of food, water, shelter, and hygiene kits. In addition, at least ten houses and a church in eastern Bago, Chin, Kayin, Mon, southern Shan, and Tanintharyi were reportedly destroyed during the reporting period.
As of 14 August, the total displaced people in the country stands at more than 1.9 million across the country, with over 1.6 million people having been displaced since 1 February 2021..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-08-23
Date of entry/update:
2023-08-23
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
UN human rights documents on Myanmar, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Agriculture in Burma/Myanmar: general and research, Human Rights and international relations
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Format :
pdf
Size:
2.15 MB
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"Civil society statement on the visit of Head of OCHA to Myanmar
While noting efforts by UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, to negotiate humanitarian access across Myanmar, including to Rakhine State following deadly Cyclone Mocha, we, the undersigned 514 civil society organizations, are concerned that Mr. Griffiths’ visit lacked substantive achievements and was used as propaganda by the military junta. We urge the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), to officially engage and partner with legitimate stakeholders of Myanmar and civil society service providers to deliver humanitarian assistance.
As Mr. Griffiths’ end-of-visit statement affirmed, “it is critical for us to have the humanitarian space we need for safe, sustained aid deliveries around the country.” Principled humanitarian engagement must see OCHA and other UN humanitarian agencies cut ties with the illegal criminal junta which is weaponizing aid and is the root cause of human suffering in Myanmar. Rather, OCHA must immediately partner with legitimate governance actors that control large parts of the country and deliver aid through local service providers. This includes Ethnic Revolutionary Organizations (EROs), the National Unity Government (NUG), and civil society organizations who have been effectively providing essential services on the ground, including through cross-border channels. Such stakeholders have the access, legitimacy, capacity and, most importantly, trust from the people that the junta simply lacks.
Given that the visit happened three months since Cyclone Mocha devastated communities in Chin and Rakhine States, Sagaing Region and beyond, the junta has proven to have no intention to address the acute needs of affected communities. Rather, OCHA visit has become the military junta’s latest propaganda exercise to attempt to gain international recognition and legitimacy. We are alarmed that OCHA’s statement omits the fact that the cause of the escalating humanitarian crisis is the junta’s violence and atrocities, or that it is the junta’s weaponization of humanitarian assistance that is blocking access to Cyclone Mocha’s victims.
While the junta has restricted humanitarian access and prevented aid from reaching vulnerable communities affected by the natural disaster, it is also the perpetrators of a nationwide man-made humanitarian catastrophe. Its widespread and systematic campaign of arson, military offensives, extrajudicial killings, and aerial attacks on civilians are, according to the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, strong evidence of “increasingly frequent and brazen war crimes.” In addition to these heinous crimes, severe restrictions of humanitarian aid delivery, including targeting aid workers, are the junta’s collective punishment of a population that is rejecting its ongoing brutal attempt to grab power. In his recent report to the 53rd Session of the Human Rights Council, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, outlines how “As part of its attempts to assert control, the military has imposed a range of legal, financial, and bureaucratic requirements on civil society and humanitarian activity that have severely reduced civic space and delivery of life-saving assistance.”
We further note OCHA’s recognition of the Myanmar military’s unconstitutional body of the “State Administration Council” in its statement which is inconsistent with the language used by the UN Security Council and UN General Assembly in their resolutions. It also legitimizes Min Aung Hlaing’s claim to be head of government by referring to him as the Chairman of the State Administration Council. We express serious concerns that OCHA’s current approach will embolden the junta to further its war of terror across the nation. Such actions risk exacerbating the humanitarian crisis, the very crisis OCHA is mandated to address and alleviate.
Despite the junta attempting to gain diplomatic legitimacy over this type of visit, OCHA must ensure substantial benefits are provided for the millions of people in dire need of humanitarian assistance as a result of the junta’s violence and atrocities. Access for OCHA staff to parts of Rakhine State and nearby areas is one issue at stake, but so is the hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons in central, southeast and northwest Myanmar, where the junta is launching non-stop deliberate attacks on civilians. In these areas, the junta does not have effective control and cannot grant access to affected communities. On the contrary, local governance and civil society actors have been effectively delivering assistance to affected communities, but must be supported by more resources.
OCHA must reflect on its current failed approach and take critical, concrete actions which truly serve Myanmar communities that are in dire need. To fulfill its mandate and principles to do no harm, OCHA must immediately pivot to delivering aid in collaboration or partnership with local humanitarian and civil society groups, ethnic service providers, diaspora communities, local administration forces of the Spring Revolution, members of the Civil Disobedience Movement, EROs, and the NUG who have been effectively providing life-saving services on the ground, including through cross-border channels.
The Myanmar military has a long history of weaponizing humanitarian aid and UN agencies have a long history of being criticized for complicity in military atrocities, all done in the name of access. OCHA can no longer afford to rehash failed models of humanitarianism, and thus tacitly giving credence and status to the illegal military junta. Rather, OCHA must be innovative and supportive of local service providers, as well as engage and collaborate with the legitimate stakeholders of Myanmar. This will ensure the most effective and widespread delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected communities suffering from international crimes committed by a brutal military junta..."
Source/publisher:
514 Myanmar, Regional and International Organizations
Date of publication:
2023-08-22
Date of entry/update:
2023-08-22
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UN human rights documents on Myanmar, Human Rights and international relations
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pdf
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266.2 KB
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"Yangon - On this World Humanitarian Day, we commemorate the 20th anniversary of the tragic attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad that reshaped the course of humanitarian action. Today, as we reflect, we are honored to recognize the dedicated aid workers of Myanmar, who exhibit unwavering commitment in delivering crucial assistance to affected and displaced communities despite the immensely challenging operational environment.
In Myanmar, active conflicts and natural disasters have led to surging displacement and unparalleled hardships. Nearly 18 million people (one-third of the population) urgently require humanitarian aid in 2023. Despite escalating complexities and multiplying challenges, our resilient humanitarians continue to rise above difficulties to deliver life-saving support.
Local and national humanitarian partners have demonstrated unwavering resolve in supporting their fellow citizens, employing innovative approaches to reach conflict-affected and disaster-stricken areas. Their determination remains focused on the singular goal of preserving lives. Throughout the first half of 2023, these partners provided shelter, food, health services, education, protection, and more to 1.8 million men, women, and children affected by conflicts and natural disasters, achieving 36 percent of their target.
However, the journey is far from over. Completing this mission amidst insecurity and continual challenges demands safeguarding the lives of these brave humanitarians and ensuring unhindered access to those in need. Financial support is equally vital to deliver comprehensive assistance to the people of Myanmar who are grappling with the compounding consequences of COVID-19, conflict, economic crisis, and natural disasters.
Nonetheless, almost eight months into 2023, the Humanitarian Response Plan and Cyclone Mocha Flash Appeal are only funded at 25 per cent. This shortfall hinders our ability to provide timely and extensive aid.
On this World Humanitarian Day, we implore all parties to uphold international human rights and humanitarian laws, including ensuring humanitarian access and protecting aid workers. We also call upon the donor community to escalate their financial contributions, thereby reaffirming their commitment to the resilient people of Myanmar who endure this multi-faceted crisis.
In the spirit of humanity, let us stand united and resolute in our determination to protect lives and alleviate suffering no matter what and where..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-08-19
Date of entry/update:
2023-08-19
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Human Rights and international relations, Cyclones - regional, Flooding in Burma/Myanmar
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181.39 KB 187.79 KB
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"(Myanmar, 17 August 2023) – Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths today called for expanded humanitarian access and increased funding to assist the 18 million people in need of aid across Myanmar.
“Successive crises in Myanmar have left one third of the population in need of humanitarian aid,” Griffiths said at the end of a three-day visit to the country. “They expect more and better from their leaders and from the international community.”
Humanitarian needs in Myanmar have surged in recent years, with the number of displaced persons increasing fivefold in less than three years, from 380,000 at the start of 2021 to 1.9 million at present.
During the visit, Griffiths met with families affected by conflict and natural disasters, including with Rakhine and Rohingya communities and with Myanmar authorities.
Griffiths visited Rakhine state, still reeling from the impact of cyclone Mocha three months ago. The cyclone flattened homes, damaged displacement camps, destroyed farmland, and killed livestock, leaving thousands of people vulnerable.
“Families are struggling to cope after the successive blows of the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict and cyclone Mocha. We stand ready to do more both in Rakhine and nationwide, but we urgently need greater access and more funding to do so.”
In the capital Nay Pyi Taw, Griffiths met with the State Administration Council Chairman, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, with whom he discussed what humanitarians need to scale-up direct aid to affected populations in areas affected by conflict and natural disasters.
“My meetings were an opportunity to raise the need for expanded access,” Griffiths said. “I also expressed my concerns about the protection risks facing civilians in conflict areas and the bureaucratic constraints we humanitarians are facing in reaching them. It is critical for us to have the humanitarian space we need for safe, sustained aid deliveries around the country,” Griffiths said.
Despite rising needs, the humanitarian operation in Myanmar is facing a huge resource gap with just 22 per cent of required funds received more than half-way through the year.
“Over the past three days, I spoke with brave aid workers about their efforts to help those in need. However, a severe lack of funding means aid agencies are forced to make tough decisions about cutting assistance at a time when they should be scaling up even further. This needs to change,” Griffiths said..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-08-17
Date of entry/update:
2023-08-17
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Agriculture in Burma/Myanmar: general and research, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Human Rights and international relations
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
66.04 KB
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Description:
"This regular update, covering humanitarian developments up to 13 July, is produced by OCHA Myanmar in collaboration with the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group and UN agencies. Response figures are based on self-reporting by organizations to clusters. The next humanitarian update will be issued in August 2023.
HIGHLIGHTS & KEY MESSAGES
• Ongoing conflict and natural disasters are continuing to exacerbate humanitarian needs across Myanmar.
• Nearly 1.9 million internally displaced people face precarious living conditions and urgently need critical and lifesaving assistance.
• Two months have passed since Cyclone Mocha struck western Myanmar and expanded humanitarian access is desperately needed to support those affected.
• After a brief suspension, humanitarians have been able to re-start their regular programmes in Rakhine, but the humanitarian cyclone response remains paused by the SAC.
• Distribution, transport and import requests have all been resubmitted and are now pending approval.
• Countrywide, restrictions on humanitarian access have increased in multiple states and regions, notably in the Southeast and Kachin, further impeding timely and efficient aid delivery to affected and displaced communities.
• Sustained support, including financial assistance, from the international community is crucial to allowing partners to stay and deliver in challenging circumstances.
• Six months into 2023, the combined $US886.7 million Humanitarian Response Plan and Cyclone Mocha Flash Appeals, remain critically underfunded, with only 17 per cent of the required funding received, as of 14 July..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-07-15
Date of entry/update:
2023-07-15
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations
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Format :
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514 KB
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"This regular update, covering humanitarian developments up to 9 June, is produced by OCHA Myanmar in collaboration with the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group and UN agencies. Response figures are based on self-reporting by organizations to clusters. The next humanitarian update will be issued in early July 2023.
HIGHLIGHTS & KEY MESSAGES
• The devastating impact of Cyclone Mocha, which landed on 14 May on Myanmar’s coastal area, and the ongoing armed conflict have compounded the suffering of people across the country. Needs are enormous especially with the monsoon season well underway.
• Nationwide, more than 1.8 million people are currently displaced in Myanmar, with 1.5 million already displaced due to the conflict and insecurity since the 2021 military takeover.
• Humanitarians continue providing critical life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable people despite access challenges and limited funding. During the first quarter of 2023, 1.4 million people were reached with humanitarian assistance (31 per cent of the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan target).
• In the cyclone-affected zone especially in Rakhine, Northwest and Kachin, humanitarian organizations have been delivering assistance where they have stocks and approval. However, more supplies, wider access and increased funding are urgently needed to deliver at-scale and meet needs across all communities.
• Restrictions on humanitarian operations and bureaucratic hurdles are impeding assistance efforts, also on the cyclone response. Of concern is the recent decision to suspend humanitarian access in Rakhine. In a press release of 12 June, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator urged the de facto authorities to reconsider this decision and prioritize the well-being of the people including of the cyclone-affected communities.
• Generous funding is vital to alleviate human suffering and support the humanitarian response in Myanmar. The US$764 million Humanitarian Response Plan, plus an additional $122 million for new activities outlined in Cyclone Mocha Flash Appeal, is crucial for recovery and relief efforts..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-06-13
Date of entry/update:
2023-06-13
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations
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544.75 KB
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"(Myanmar, 12 June 2023) – One month after Cyclone Mocha hit western Myanmar with brutal force, the State Administration Council has suspended humanitarian access in Rakhine State, crippling life-saving aid distributions to affected communities.
“Four weeks into this disaster response and with the monsoon season well underway, it is unfathomable that humanitarians are being denied access to support people in need,” UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator a.i Ramanathan Balakrishnan said.
Since the cyclone hit on 14 May, humanitarians have been reaching a growing number of people with aid using limited travel authorizations granted to organizations with long-standing operations in Rakhine. More than 110,000 people across the affected areas have received shelter and other relief items, while food assistance has reached almost 300,000 people in Rakhine alone. This new access decision suspends that assistance, paralyzing the humanitarian response.
“This decision is yet another devastating setback for more than a million people whom humanitarians had planned to reach with life-saving assistance in cyclone-hit Rakhine state over the weeks and months ahead. Just when vulnerable communities need our help the most, we have been forced to stop distributions of food, drinking water, and shelter supplies,” Mr. Balakrishnan said.
Since the cyclone, humanitarians have had extensive discussions to scale up assistance in Rakhine and other cyclone-affected areas. After significant engagement at both Nay Pyi Taw and regional level, initial approval for distribution and transportation plans and additional travel authorization was received for wider distributions in June. This has since been rescinded, pending further clearances. Similar plans for distribution and transportation in Chin also remain pending.
“This denial of access unnecessarily prolongs the suffering of those without food to eat or a roof over their head. It increases the risk of food insecurity and water-borne disease,” Mr. Balakrishnan said. “On behalf of humanitarian actors, I urge the State Administration Council to urgently reconsider this decision and re-instate the initial approval that was granted for distributions which will allow aid that is ready and waiting to flow to people who desperately need it.”
On 23 May, humanitarians launched a US$333 million Flash Appeal for donor support to reach 1.6 million people affected by Cyclone Mocha in Rakhine, Chin, Sagaing, Magway and Kachin. To date, just $10.3m has been received..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-06-12
Date of entry/update:
2023-06-12
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Human Rights and international relations
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180.68 KB 237.88 KB
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"This more comprehensive product now replaces the daily Flash Updates that were previously issued by OCHA Myanmar on Cyclone Mocha. This Sit Rep is produced by OCHA in collaboration with the seven operating humanitarian clusters and their sub-working groups in Myanmar. The humanitarian response section is not necessarily reflective of all humanitarian interventions undertaken on the ground but rather those voluntarily reported by partners. Sit Reps are now being issued weekly.
HIGHLIGHTS
The humanitarian access situation in cyclone-hit Rakhine state has deteriorated with existing travel authorizations (TAs) for humanitarian organizations suspended this week pending new, centralized discussions in Nay Pyi Taw.
Initial approval for humanitarian distribution and transportation plans for cyclone-affected townships in Rakhine have also been rescinded pending further Nay Pyi Taw-level deliberations. Similar plans in Chin are also pending.
Some requests for the replenishment of relief supplies from outside the country have been approved, but with significant conditions. Others remain pending.
The suspension of access in Rakhine brings a stop to activities that have been reaching hundreds of thousands of people.
To date, more than 110,000 affected people have received shelter and other essential relief items.
Food assistance had reached almost 300,000 affected people in Rakhine state alone.
In Rakhine, partners were distributing seeds and organic fertilizers to provide families with food to eat and sell. Further scaled-up distributions of agricultural inputs are critical to combating food insecurity in affected areas over the months ahead and are now also on pause.
Humanitarians have also been prioritizing the wellbeing of children in the response, including through the establishment of hundreds of mobile and temporary child-friendly spaces, and the distribution of critical child safety messaging to nearly 28,000 people across Rakhine and the Northwest.
The suspension of activities in Rakhine could not have come at worse time with the monsoon arriving. An urgent scale-up of the response is needed, expanding activities that had already been underway in the impact zone and adding to assistance being distributed by a range of local authorities and civil society organizations in different areas.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
The monsoon season has arrived in Myanmar, further worsening the living situation facing people whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Cyclone Mocha in mid-May. Heavy rains and some flooding were observed in areas that were already heavily impacted, further hampering the recovery process for people whose coping capacities are already stretched to the limit.
Against this backdrop, access restrictions have escalated. Existing TAs that had been facilitating assistance delivery in Rakhine have been suspended pending centralized discussions in Nay Pyi Taw through the Disaster Management Committee. Using these existing approvals, humanitarians had been reaching a growing number of people in need. More than 113,200 people in the affected areas have received shelter and other relief items, while food assistance has reached more than 293,800 people in Rakhine alone. In addition, humanitarians have been working to ensure cyclone-affected children are looked after with the establishment of 240 mobile and temporary child-friendly spaces in Rakhine and the Northwest. These spaces provide safe environments for children to engage in recreational activities and receive vital psychosocial support after the trauma and disruption they have experienced. Approximately 28,000 people in Rakhine and the Northwest have also received important child safety messages.
Humanitarians had been hoping to scale-up their operations in the coming weeks, but this centralized decision on TAs now puts that on hold. Initial approval for humanitarian distribution and transport plans across 11 townships have also been rescinded pending additional deliberations in Nay Pyi Taw. Similar plans for Chin are also not yet approved.
Some import requests have been approved with conditions. Others remain pending. Flexible imports are critical for the replenishment of supplies. Scaled-up financial support is also urgently required to facilitate the timely procurement of vital supplies. According to the Financial Tracking Service (FTS), as of 6 June, only US$8 million in additional funds has been received against the $333 million Cyclone Mocha Flash Appeal. This appeal aims to provide assistance to 1.6 million people most heavily impacted by the cyclone in Rakhine, Chin, Sagaing, Magway, and Kachin..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-06-09
Date of entry/update:
2023-06-09
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Agriculture in Burma/Myanmar: general and research, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations
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"This more comprehensive product now replaces the daily Flash Updates that were previously issued by OCHA Myanmar on Cyclone Mocha. This Sit Rep is produced by OCHA in collaboration with the seven operating humanitarian clusters and their sub-working groups in Myanmar. The humanitarian response section is not necessarily reflective of all humanitarian interventions undertaken on the ground but rather those voluntarily reported by partners. The next Sit Rep will be issued on Wednesday, 7 June 2023.
HIGHLIGHTS
The humanitarian response in cyclone-affected areas continues to expand, however much wider access is still needed to reach the 1.6 million people targeted as part of the Cyclone Mocha Flash Appeal across Rakhine, Chin, Magway, Sagaing, and Kachin.
More than 95,000 people in areas affected by the cyclone have received shelter and other relief items.
Almost 267,000 people have received food assistance, and approximately 3,380 metric tons of rice and high-energy biscuits have been distributed to cyclone-affected people in Rakhine.
Between 25 and 31 May 2023, health partners conducted more than 7,800 consultations in the most severely affected townships.
With the scale-up in the response, the looming monsoon and a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal, the replenishment of humanitarian supplies from Yangon and overseas is becoming increasingly urgent.
The swift approval of transport and importation requests, a detailed two-week distribution plan, and further travel authorizations (TAs) for the cyclone response are imperative to meet immediate shelter needs and prevent waterborne disease outbreaks.
Generous funding is also vital to support the scaling up of humanitarian operations, facilitate procurement, transport, and distribution of supplies, and ensure the well-being of affected communities. As of 2 June, the Cyclone Mocha Flash Appeal has received US$4.6 million according to FTS.
Simultaneously, local authorities have been working to support recovery through debris clearance and the restoration of power, water and telecommunication services in Rakhine. In parallel, other actors are also providing support to the recovery effort, including in rural areas.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
Humanitarian response operations continue to expand through organizations with new and existing TAs across the cyclonestricken regions of Rakhine, Chin, Magway, Sagaing, and Kachin, with shelter and food assistance particularly gathering pace. More than 95,240 people in areas affected by the cyclone have received shelter and other relief items. More than 266,500 people have received food assistance, and approximately 3,380 metric tons of rice and high-energy biscuits (33 per cent of the total plan) have been distributed to cyclone-affected people in Rakhine. In the Northwest, food distribution for 78,000 people in Magway is pending approval. Between 25 and 31 May 2023, health partners conducted more than 7,800 consultations in the most severely affected townships of Rakhine, the Northwest, and Kachin, ensuring access to essential healthcare services. However, this work is still only meeting a fraction of overall needs and wider access for distributions is desperately required. The clock is ticking with the monsoon looming and another low-pressure area being closely monitored in the Bay of Bengal. Severe damage to agricultural land, loss of livestock and damage to the fishing fleet are also shaping as major food security issues over the weeks ahead.
Approval is pending for the transport of supplies from warehouses inside the country and from outside Myanmar. Approval is also pending for a twoweek distribution and related travel authoritzation for Rakhine and Chin.
Timely approval of these requests will allow partner organizations to provide safe shelter, address immediate needs, avert potential waterborne disease outbreaks, and mitigate against protection risks.
Local authorities have been working on recovery measures in priority areas, particularly in Sittwe and Rathedaung. Debris clearance from Sittwe's streets has improved access to areas that were previously blocked by fallen trees and collapsed electricity poles. Power is gradually being restored to most of the affected regions, and the repair of streetlights along Sittwe town's main thoroughfares has enhanced visibility and safety.
Telecommunication services are also coming back online which is vital to engage with the cyclone affected communities as well as for effective coordination and timely response efforts among partners working across the various townships. Work has also been underway to repair schools and deliver water in Rathedaung, Kyauktaw, and Sittwe townships. A 14 member ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ERAT) was deployed to Rakhine to support assessments and response by the Department of Disaster Management (DDM). They have now wrapped up their work.
In parallel, other actors are also providing support to the recovery efforts, including in rural areas. They have also been measuring the impact in affected communities and delivering assistance to the extent of their resources and access. Civil society organizations, private donors and religious networks are working to support affected communities. Communities themselves have also swung into action, clearing debris from blocked roads, and providing shelter to those who have lost their homes.
Funding is critically needed to support the scale-up of humanitarian operations, facilitating urgent procurement, transport, and distribution of vital supplies to support affected communities. According to Financial Tracking System (FTS), as of 2 June, $4.6 million in additional funds has been received for the $333 million Cyclone Mocha Flash Appeal, which seeks to support 1.6 million people affected by the cyclone in Rakhine, Chin, Sagaing, Magway, and Kachin..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-06-03
Date of entry/update:
2023-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Agriculture in Burma/Myanmar: general and research, Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations
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"This more comprehensive product now replaces the daily Flash Updates that were previously issued by OCHA Myanmar on Cyclone Mocha. This Sit Rep is produced by OCHA in collaboration with the seven operating humanitarian clusters and their sub-working groups in Myanmar. The humanitarian response section is not necessarily reflective of all humanitarian interventions undertaken on the ground but rather those voluntarily reported by partners. The next Sit Rep will be issued on 2 June 2023.
HIGHLIGHTS
Two weeks after Cyclone Mocha hit western Myanmar safe shelter remains a key priority for cyclone-affected people who have been left without a roof over their head as the monsoon approaches. Cyclone Mocha has exposed significant safety and security challenges for cyclone affected communities.
To date, shelter and other relief items have been distributed to more than 63,000 people.
More than 230,000 people have received food assistance but household food reserves are dwindling, and communities are having difficulty buying food due to price rises and crop damage. Loss of agricultural inputs and livestock is a growing problem.
The cyclone has created an education emergency with approximately 80 per cent of schools and educational infrastructure reportedly sustaining damage ahead of the start of the new school term. Work is underway to reinstate Temporary Learning Spaces (TLSs), disseminate learning kits to children, and restore schools and learning centers to operation.
While humanitarians continue to ramp up support where they have authorizations and supplies, so far it has only been possible to reach a fraction of the 1.6 million people identified for assistance in the $333 million Flash Appeal launched last week.
Wider access for distributions is urgently needed, along with permission to transport humanitarian supplies from in-country warehouses and into Myanmar from other countries. Detailed plans for the transport and distribution of supplies have been shared and are pending approval.
Pledges of additional funding from generous donors have started arriving, but much more is needed to adequately support vulnerable people and ensure prompt distributions of critical supplies.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
Two weeks have passed since Cyclone Mocha struck Myanmar the humanitarian response is gathering pace but aid agencies still require more supplies, expanded access and additional funds to distribute assistance at-scale. Needs are enormous across all communities. The consequences of the cyclone reach far beyond the physical destruction of houses and public infrastructure, with a range of safety risks now also threatening the well-being of the affected population. These risks include the movement of unexploded ordnance (UXOs) in flooded areas, instances of sexual and gender-based violence, loss of civil documentation, looting, extortion, and robbery. Such risks pose a direct threat to affected communities, potentially exacerbating negative coping mechanisms such as high interest borrowing and children begging due to the lack of job opportunities of their parents. This situation increases the likelihood of child labor, exploitation, and abuse.
The cyclone's impact has eroded community support systems among affected populations. Reports from partners on the ground indicate that parents are struggling to adequately care for their children while they are rebuilding their damaged homes or are seeking employment to sustain their families. Of particular concern is the situation faced by displaced communities, that are currently enduring overcrowded living conditions that lack privacy, sanitation, and proper lighting in many areas. These conditions pose the risk of sexual abuse and harassment, particularly targeting women and adolescent girls. Adding to the gravity of the situation is the destruction or damage to most of the Women and Girls’ Centers in the affected areas.
Despite ongoing access challenges, humanitarian partners are ensuring that field observations continue in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the cyclone's impact, especially among vulnerable groups. Simultaneously, those who have access are intensifying their response efforts, delivering critical and lifesaving assistance to affected communities in the Rakhine, Chin, Magway, Sagaing, and Kachin..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-05-31
Date of entry/update:
2023-05-31
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Agriculture in Burma/Myanmar: general and research, Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations
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"This more comprehensive product now replaces the daily Flash Updates which were previously being issued by OCHA Myanmar on Cyclone Mocha. This Sit Rep is produced by OCHA in collaboration with the seven operating clusters and their sub-working groups in Myanmar. The humanitarian response section is not necessarily reflective of all humanitarian interventions undertaken on the ground but rather those voluntarily reported by partners. The next Sit Rep will be issued on or around 30 May 2023.
HIGHLIGHTS
• With the monsoon looming, the humanitarian community is in a race against time to respond to a shelter, water, sanitation and food emergency in areas most heavily affected by Cyclone Mocha that smashed Myanmar on 14 May.
• Aid organizations have been delivering assistance where they have stocks and approval, but more supplies, wider access and increased funding are urgently needed to deliver an operation at-scale and meet needs across all communities.
• Based on discussions in Nay Pyi Taw, a detailed two-week distribution plan has been submitted for approval, along with transportation plans for the movement of stocks within Myanmar and from outside the country.
• The humanitarian community has launched a Flash Appeal seeking $333 million to provide assistance to 1.6 million people affected by Cyclone Mocha. Immediate funding is crucial to support vulnerable populations in the hardest-hit zones across Rakhine, Chin, Magway, Sagaing, and Kachin.
• Shelter and other relief items are being distributed where access is possible with 7,700 households reached so far across 8 townships in Rakhine, while cash assistance for shelter repairs has been distributed in the Northwest.
• Distribution of drinking water and hygiene kits has also continued. More than 30,000 litres of drinking water have been distributed to affected villages and displacement camps and sites in Rakhine over the past few days, while more than 4,500 affected households in at least six townships in Chin and Magway are already being provided with hygiene kits. Increased cases of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) have already been recorded.
• Immediate assistance is needed to provide food to vulnerable populations. So far since the cyclone, at least 107,000 people have been reached with food support by WFP across all communities in Rakhine alone. In Rakhine in total, more than 2,000 metric tons of rice and mixed food commodities and 111 metric tons of high energy biscuits have been distributed to food insecure people since the cyclone.
• Distributions have also been underway in the Northwest. The agriculture and fishery sectors have been badly hit, causing a severe loss of assets crucial for livelihoods and posing a longer-term threat to food security.
• Health services are being provided, but damaged infrastructure poses challenges. Many township hospital buildings, IDP camp clinics, and rural health centers have been impacted, Mobile health teams are operating where they can.
• Explosive ordnance (EO), loss of civil documentation, mental health, overcrowding, and separation of children from caregivers are significant protection issues. Partners are delivering EO safety messages, conducting reunifications, establishing child-friendly spaces, providing awareness-raising messages, and offering psychosocial support wherever possible. Continued efforts are needed to address these protection immediate safety and wellbeing concerns.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
Extremely Severe Cyclone Mocha made landfall in Myanmar’s Rakhine state on 14 May packing winds of 250 kmph as it approached the coast, making it one of the strongest cyclones on record to hit the country. The cyclone has devastated coastal areas, leaving hundreds of thousands of already vulnerable people without a roof over their heads with the monsoon just weeks away. The cyclone also brough heavy damage as it advanced inland bringing strong wind, heavy rain and flooding across areas in Chin, Sagaing, Magway and Kachin.
An estimated 7.9 million people experienced winds in excess of 90km/h, with 3.4 million facing destructive winds over 120 km/h. The strength of shelters and pre-existing vulnerabilities are emerging as the key determining factors in the severity of impact and needs. Barely a home has escaped damage in the state capital Sittwe and in Rathedaung where the impact of the cyclone was strongest. An estimated 85 per cent of the shelters in IDP camps and sites are thought to have been destroyed. Many of those most severely affected are now living in temporary sites, in monasteries or in the open. A massive debris clearance and rebuilding effort has been underway across the impact zone since the cyclone with local authorities working to gradually reconnect telecommunications and electricity services particularly in the state capital Sittwe. Schools have been heavily affected, and efforts are underway to have learning facilities available for the start of the school term in June. Health facilities have also been badly damaged.
In the Northwest, severe flooding affected more than 120,000 people across Chin, Sagaing, and Magway, with an estimated 150 villages and wards across 20 townships impacted. Infrastructure has been damaged and destroyed while floods have washed away animals, crops and personal belongings. Over 300 community learning centers were partially or totally damaged, with roofs ripped off and walls broken.
Cyclone Mocha also significantly impacted the agriculture and fishery sectors across all affected areas and communities, causing a severe loss of assets crucial for livelihoods. Furthermore, the cyclone exacerbated pre-existing humanitarian needs arising from years of conflict, displacement, statelessness, the COVID-19 pandemic, and economic instability. Post-cyclone, markets have reopened but with surging prices for basic shelter materials and food, straining the already impoverished population. Local communities have begun clearing debris and cleaning up, and telecommunications are gradually stabilizing.
Despite access issues, ongoing conflict, and communications difficulties, humanitarian partners with access have scaled-up their support, providing critical and lifesaving assistance to affected communities in Rakhine, Chin, Magway and Sagaing, as well as Kachin..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-05-27
Date of entry/update:
2023-05-27
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Agriculture in Burma/Myanmar: general and research, Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations
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"(Myanmar, 23 May 2023)- The humanitarian community in Myanmar has launched a $333 million Flash Appeal to assist 1.6 million people affected by Cyclone Mocha that devastated the country’s west on 14 May.
“This perfect storm has devastated coastal areas, leaving hundreds of thousands of already vulnerable people without a roof over their heads as the monsoon looms,” Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. for Myanmar, Ramanathan Balakrishnan said. “We are now in a race against time to provide people with safe shelter in all affected communities and prevent the spread of water-borne disease. For this life-saving work, we need the generous financial support of the international community.”
The Flash Appeal requests an urgent injection of funds for activities to support vulnerable people in the highest impact zone across Rakhine, Chin, Magway, Sagaing and Kachin.
“This is a humanitarian catastrophe in one of country’s poorest areas, where there are high pre-existing needs, and we need donors to dig deep to support scaled-up distributions to the most vulnerable ahead of the rains,” the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. said.
The Flash Appeal includes a combination of $211 million in prioritized activities from the 2023 Myanmar Humanitarian Response Plan that are being pivoted to support the cyclone response in affected areas, plus $122 million for additional activities or support to people newly affected by this disaster. The 1.6 million people identified for support under this appeal include those who have lost their homes, people who lack access to health services and clean water, people who are food insecure or malnourished, displaced people living in camps, stateless people, women, children and people with a disability.
Extremely Severe Cyclone Mocha crossed the coast in Rakhine State just over a week ago, before moving inland bringing flooding, landslides and strong winds. The cyclone recorded wind speeds of more than 250kmph as it approached the Rakhine coast, making it one of the strongest cyclones ever to hit the country.
“In the Rakhine State capital, Sittwe, almost no house was spared damage and displacement camps in the path of the cyclone have been left in splinters. Those affected are facing a long, miserable monsoon season if we cannot mobilize resources to deliver life-saving supplies,” Mr Balakrishnan said.
Myanmar Flash Appeal: https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/myanmar-cyclone-mocha-flash-appeal-may-2023
Images, video and other background materials: Press handout from the UN in Myanmar on Cyclone Mocha
For further information, please contact:
Danielle Parry, Officer in Charge, [email protected], +95 9797002713 (Phone/Signal)
Suhad Sakalla, Humanitarian Affairs Officer, [email protected], +95 9797007815, +972 054433 4202 (Signal/WhatsApp)
Lesly Lotha, Communication Specialist, [email protected], +959 796139223 (Phone/Signal)
For more information, please visit www.unocha.org | https://reliefweb.int/country/mmr | https://www.facebook.com/OCHAMyanmar
Disclaimer
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-05-23
Date of entry/update:
2023-05-23
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, The discussion on humanitarian assistance to Burma, Cyclones - regional
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"Highlights
• The humanitarian community in Myanmar has launched a $333 million Flash Appeal to assist 1.6 million people affected by Cyclone Mocha, which devastated the country’s west on 14 May.
• Immediate funding is crucial to support vulnerable people in the hardest-hit areas, and coordination efforts are underway to expand access for distributions and facilitate the transportation of essential supplies.
• The cyclone has devastated coastal areas, leaving hundreds of thousands of already vulnerable people without a roof over their heads as the monsoon looms.
• The humanitarian community is in a race against time to provide people with safe shelter in all affected communities and prevent the spread of water-borne disease.
• As feared, community members are starting to report that children are experiencing diarrhea due to unclean water sources. Furthermore, child protection services have been disrupted following the cyclone, leaving vulnerable children in even greater need of support.
• There are growing concerns about the dangers posed by explosive ordnance contamination in the affected areas.
• Humanitarian partners with access to affected people have stepped up support to provide critical and lifesaving assistance, including food aid.
• Field observations in various townships in Rakhine, Northwest, and Kachin regions are informing ongoing response efforts where there is access.
• Based on discussions in Nay Pyi Taw, humanitarians have shared a detailed, two-week distribution plan, for approval, outlining support that is ready to be provided to across all affected communities in Rakhine and Chin.
Situation Overview
In the past week, local communities in Rakhine have been cleaning and clearing debris in the affected areas, with volunteers joining forces in Sittwe. Telecommunications are becoming more stable, but it will take time to fully restore services, particularly in the hardest-hit townships of Sittwe and Rathedaung. In the Northwest (Chin, Magway and Sagaing), access challenges, ongoing conflict, and communication problems have hindered the ability of humanitarian partners on the ground to get a full picture of the destruction.
Despite these challenges, humanitarian partners with access to affected people have scaled-up support by providing critical and lifesaving assistance, including food aid. Many Civil Society Organizations, who themselves were also heavily impacted by the cyclone, are also responding to the most critical emergency needs and conducting field observations, to the extent of their access and resources. Based on discussions in Nay Pyi Taw, humanitarians have shared a detailed, two-week distribution plan, for approval, outlining support that is ready to be provided to across all affected communities in Rakhine and Chin. A number of other requests are in process for the transport of relief items into the country.
A rapid analysis of contamination1 and incident data from Cyclone Mocha’s worst-hit areas has found that 60 per cent of the landmine incidents reported in the first quarter of 20232 were in areas that have now been affected by the cyclone. Of these, 90 per cent are reported from the highest impact area (red zone), where winds exceeding 120kmph were recorded. Nearly half of the villages that have reported contamination with high confidence (evidence of landmines reported) are located within this red zone. Moreover, nearly half of the villages that have reported contamination with lower confidence (suspicion of landmine contamination) are also in the red zone.
The protection needs of children in Rakhine are increasing as the cyclone has disrupted the delivery of critical child protection services, including case management and psychosocial support. Children already affected by conflict, displacement, and poverty are now even more vulnerable and require urgent support to meet their basic needs and protect them from harm. Support from child protection actors is limited due to accessibility challenges and the absence of reliable communication channels.
Awareness-raising messages about the risk of explosive ordnance and landmines, waterborne diseases, as well as mental health and psychosocial support, continue to be disseminated among affected communities to promote safety and precautionary measures..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-05-23
Date of entry/update:
2023-05-23
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Public Health, Human Rights and international relations, Cyclones - regional, Natural Disasters - General
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582.04 KB 533.66 KB
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"Situation Overview
This multi-sectoral Flash Appeal targets approximately 1.6 million people affected by cyclone Mocha and its aftermath across five areas of Myanmar – Rakhine, Chin, Sagaing, Magway and Kachin. A total of US$333 million is urgently required for this response plan to address needs in areas in all communities affected by the cyclone and its aftermath.
The cyclone and the flooding that followed hit an area of high pre-existing vulnerability, with large numbers of displaced, returned, stateless and crisisaffected people, who were already targeted for support under the existing 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). Thus, the financial requirement for this Flash Appeal includes some activities originally costed under the 2023 HRP that can now be pivoted to support people affected by the cyclone. It also identifies completely new or scaled-up activities that will support the cyclone response to the existing HRP target populations, as well as costing support to entirely new people with needs as a result of the disaster across all communities.
Communities and humanitarian responders are now in a race against time to implement the response outlined with the monsoon imminent and hundreds of thousands of people either homeless or living in damaged shelters with limited access to clean water.
A dramatic scale-up of funding is imperative to support the activities outlined given the scale of the disaster and the dire existing funding gap for the HRP (10 per cent funded). The day before the cyclone, the Humanitarian Coordinator initiated a $2m Reserve Allocation under the Myanmar Humanitarian Fund to kick-start procurement of supplies and cash responses to affected people. On 18 May, the Emergency Relief Coordinator also approved a $10m allocation under the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) Rapid Response window to support the Humanitarian Country Team to expand operations.
However, much more support is needed to deliver a disaster response at-scale.
This plan outlines immediate responses to be implemented during the initial months after the cyclone. The HCT may decide to revise this appeal once more information becomes available or may choose to fold these activities into a wider HRP revision at a later date.
Context and Needs Overview
Extremely Severe Cyclone Mocha hit Myanmar’s Rakhine with brutal force on 14 May. One of the strongest cyclones ever recorded in Myanmar, the eye made landfall between Cox’s Bazaar and Kyaukpyu township, approaching the coast with maximum sustained winds of around 250 km/h and wind gusts of up to 305 km/h, before continuing inland and impacting communities with heavy rain and winds on 15 May. This appeal addresses needs generated by the cyclone and its aftermath in communities across five states and regions – Rakhine, Chin, Sagaing, Magway and Kachin.
An estimated 7.9 million people live in areas that experienced winds in excess of 90kmph during the cyclone. Of these, 3.4 million faced very destructive winds of more than 120 kmph, placing them at very high risk given the poor shelters in these locations and their pre-existing vulnerabilities.
Heavy rainfall, storm surge and strong winds associated with the cyclone caused widespread damage across affected locations, including flooding in low-lying areas of Rakhine, particularly in and around the state capital, Sittwe, as well as the townships of Kyauktaw, Maungdaw, Pauktaw,
Ponnagyun, and Rathedaung. Almost all buildings in Sittwe and Rathedaung have suffered damage, leaving hundreds of thousands of people either homeless or living in damaged houses. Significant damage has been suffered by displacement camps, where long houses were left in splinters and access bridges have been washed away. Extensive areas of farming land and coastal areas have been affected, with severe losses of assets that are crucial for the agriculture and fishery sectors. The destruction of the local fishing fleet and heavy loss of agricultural inputs will have serious implications on livelihoods and are likely to see the adoption of negative coping strategies in the months ahead.
As the weather system moved inland into the country’s Northwest and Northeast, continuous heavy rain caused flooding in townships in Magway where the Ayeyarwady River overflowed. In Chin, houses were reportedly damaged or destroyed. In Magway and Sagaing, floodwaters reportedly damaged infrastructure and agricultural fields and washed away livestock and personal belongings. Later, in Waingmaw Township in Kachin, shelters were damaged in Shanjai, which is home to more than 1,000 displaced people, as well as in the Maga Yang/Sha It Yang, Hka Shau, and Pajau/Janmai displacement camps.
Significant damage has been reported to public infrastructure in all affected areas, including hospitals, health centres, banks, schools, bridges, and religious buildings. Water systems, sanitation facilities, water supply infrastructure and latrines have also been affected, reducing access to safe drinking water and basic hygiene services, and increasing the risk of outbreaks of water-borne disease.
Although most markets have re-opened, the soaring prices of basic shelter materials needed for rebuilding, including tarpaulins, metal sheeting, and nails, has made this task unaffordable for most affected people in these very impoverished parts of the country. Food costs have also spiked in many locations, putting a strain on households that were already living on the edge of survival. For example, the price of one kilogram of rice in Mrauk-U township has increased from MMK 1,300 ($0.62) before the cyclone to MMK 1,500 ($0.71) one week after the disaster.
Even prior to the cyclone, the affected areas were characterized by heavy humanitarian needs resulting from years of conflict, displacement, statelessness,
COVID-19, and economic instability. This new disaster has now added a devastating new dimension to the humanitarian situation facing people in the country’s west.
Preparedness and early response
The Myanmar Humanitarian Emergency Response Preparedness Plan was activated at the national and sub-national levels ahead of the cyclone making landfall. Humanitarian organisations ramped up their preparedness efforts, pre-positioned personnel and supplies wherever possible, and disseminated safety messages to affected areas.
Since the cyclone hit, humanitarian personnel have been working to gauge the full impact of the disaster on affected people through a series of field missions and early support where they had permission to start distributions particularly of food, non-food items (NFIs), shelter and hygiene items. Based on discussions in Nay Pyi Taw, a detailed two-week distribution plan will soon be shared for approval, outlining further support that is ready to be provided to across all affected communities in Rakhine and Chin. Efforts are also underway to move more supplies to the impact zone from both Ya ngon and various locations outside the country.
The national Natural Disaster Management Committee was activated in Nay Pyi Taw before the cyclone and local authorities carried out evacuations in high-risk areas. In areas under the control of the State Administration Council (SAC), local authorities deployed personnel to start initiating debris clearance, restore communications and begin distributions.
The ASEAN Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA) deployed staff to support the Emergency Operations Centre in Nay Pyi Taw before the cyclone hit. A 14 member ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ERAT) has been deployed to Rakhine to support the response by the Department of Disaster Management (DDM). The first three plane loads of AHA shelter supplies arrived in Myanmar on 21 May and were handed over to DDM for distribution in affected areas. OCHA continues to coordinate closely with AHA on the response.
In areas outside SAC control, various ethnic and resistance groups have been measuring the impact in affected communities and delivering assistance to the extent of their resources and access.
Civil society organizations and religious networks are working to support affected communities.
Communities themselves have also swung into action, clearing debris from blocked roads, and providing shelter to those who have lost their homes..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-05-23
Date of entry/update:
2023-05-23
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations, Cyclones - regional, Natural Disasters - General
Language:
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4.12 MB (30 pages) - Original version
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"Highlights
• One week after Cyclone Mocha, a clearer picture is emerging of the depth of destruction as humanitarians work to expand assistance across affected areas.
• Sittwe and Rathedaung are the hardest hit areas in Rakhine. Shelter damage there is significant across all communities.
• Destruction of public infrastructure, as well as disruptions to water systems, continue to limit access to clean drinking water in Rakhine, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases especially among the affected population.
• In Rathedaung township, all rural health centers, hospitals and public schools have been destroyed according to partners.
• Coastal villages along the Ah Ngu Maw-Maungdaw Road in Rathedaung and Maungdaw townships have suffered severe damage, including the loss of livestock. Southern Maungdaw reportedly has also faced damage, including to schools in five villages.
• Based on discussions in Nay Pyi Taw, humanitarians will soon be sharing a detailed, two-week distribution plan, for approval, outlining support that is ready to be provided to across all affected communities in Rakhine and Chin.
• In the meantime, partners who already have access are prioritizing the distribution of food and critical relief items where they can. Efforts are also underway to transport additional supplies to address stockpile shortages, pending necessary approvals for movement within and outside the country.
• Humanitarian partners are disseminating messages in local languages to raise awareness around risks of waterborne disease and landmines among affected communities and promote safety precautions.
• The cyclone has led to an increase in the number of unaccompanied children in Rakhine, highlighting the urgent need for child protection and appropriate support services.
Situation Overview
While a massive clean-up effort has been underway in Sittwe over the past week, continued field visits by humanitarian partners are shedding light on the magnitude of the crisis faced by people across the impact zone. Many people have been left without safe shelter and have lost all of their belongings, further exacerbating the already dire living conditions endured by many for the past three years due to the pandemic, ongoing conflict, and economic instability.
Humanitarian partners who have access to the population are already providing critical relief items to the extent possible, including through the distribution of food assistance. Efforts are underway to transport additional humanitarian supplies from Yangon to Sittwe to address stockpile shortages and bolster the response. Humanitarians are also exploring various approaches to facilitate the movement of supplies to impacted areas, both from within and outside the country, pending necessary approvals.
Telecommunications problems persist and access to banking services is being disrupted both by cyclone damage and bureaucratic obstacles. Humanitarian partners continue to disseminate safety messages in local languages focusing on the risk of waterborne disease and the movement of landmines in flooded areas. Venomous snakes are also an increasing threat in flood-affected areas, especially in Magway and Sagaing..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-05-21
Date of entry/update:
2023-05-21
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations, Cyclones - regional, Natural Disasters - General, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
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"Highlights
Humanitarian assistance has begun reaching people affected by cyclone Mocha in Myanmar’s Rakhine State as communities race to rebuild their lives and homes ahead of the monsoon.
On Sunday, cyclone Mocha devastated coastal regions in Rakhine, including Sittwe and Rathedaung, damaging or destroying homes, before moving inland where it brought severe flooding.
Vulnerable people continue to seek shelter in evacuation centers and monasteries in the aftermath of the cyclone.
In the past two days, the World Food Programme has delivered emergency food assistance to some 6,000 IDPs and people sheltering in cyclone shelters in the Rakhine capital Sittwe. Shelter support has also been delivered to communities in need and mobile health teams have been treating people in the field.
Humanitarians have been working to gauge the full
impact of the cyclone in areas where they have access
while partners await approval for coordinated field missions that would allow for the wider-scale distribution of assistance based on observed need.
The limited availability and soaring prices for essential items, especially shelter materials, are presenting significant challenges for those trying to reconstruct their damaged homes and shelters with the monsoon looming.
Although fuel supplies have arrived in some areas, a shortage of crucial public services, such as health facilities and water treatment, persists.
Awareness-raising messages are being disseminated in a bid to prevent waterborne diseases and casualties from landmines in flooded areas.
Urgent funding is required to meet the significant needs arising from Cyclone Mocha. Currently, the existing US$764 million Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) is only 10 per cent funded.
On 18 May, the Emergency Relief Coordinator has approved an allocation of $10m from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support the response to cyclone Mocha in Myanmar.
Situation Overview
Five days have passed since Cyclone Mocha struck Myanmar’s west, causing extensive damage and significantly affecting millions of people across Rakhine and the Northwest. Some parts of Kachin and northern Shan also experienced heavy rains and strong winds associated with the cyclone as the weather system moved inland. Electricity and telecommunication services are still unreliable in the affected townships.
Vulnerable people, including women, expectant mothers, children and the elderly, many of whom have not previously experienced displacement, are seeking shelter in evacuation centers and monasteries after being left homeless by the cyclone. Those who have returned home are facing the daunting task of rebuilding their damaged houses with limited available resources. Although some markets have re-opened, the soaring prices of basic shelter materials, such as tarpaulins, aluminum sheets, and nails, has made this task unaffordable for most people in these very impoverished parts of the country. For instance, the cost of a tarpaulin sheet has more than doubled, increasing from MMK 40,000 ($19) before the cyclone to MMK 97,000 ($46). Food costs are also soaring. For example, the price of one bag of rice has also increased from MMK 80,000 ($38) before the cyclone to MMK120,000 ($57). Such a sharp increases cannot be absorbed by most families.
Humanitarian partners have begun reaching people with support based on field observations in various townships where they had previously approved access or where there has been new access approved. On 18 May, the World Food Programme received permission to distribute emergency food in 8 townships: Sittwe, Kyauktaw, Ponngayun, Pauktaw, Rathedaung, Minbya, Meybon and Mrauk-U, as well as approval for assistance in Buthidaung and Maungdaw in northern Rakhine. It has been possible for partners to distribute some shelter assistance as well in locations where they had pre- existing operations and mobile health teams have been operational in affected communities. Humanitarians are seeking access for coordinated field missions to distribute wider assistance based on observations of the situation on the ground.
In recent days, initial humanitarian supplies have also been transported via trucks to Sittwe township from Yangon and humanitarians are exploring a range of approaches to try and move supplies to the impact zone from inside and outside the country, pending approval. Additionally, fuel supplies arrived in Sittwe city on 18 May and were distributed to gas stations. As of 19 May, gas stations are operational, and the price of fuel has dropped from MMK 2,700 (more than $1) to MMK 2,200 ($1). However, there is still a shortage of fuel, particularly for essential public services, such as health facilities and water treatment. Other critical needs include shelter, food aid, medical supplies, and healthcare services.
Concerns persist in flooded areas regarding the spread of waterborne disease and the movement of landmines in conflict areas. Humanitarian partners have preemptively developed awareness-raising messages in local languages around these concerns. These messages are being disseminated among affected communities in these areas to raise awareness and promote safety precautions..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-05-19
Date of entry/update:
2023-05-19
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Natural Disasters - General, Cyclones - regional
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Format :
pdf
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782.96 KB
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Description:
"Highlights
Humanitarian assistance has begun reaching people affected by cyclone Mocha in Myanmar’s Rakhine State as communities race to rebuild their lives and homes ahead of the monsoon.
On Sunday, cyclone Mocha devastated coastal regions in Rakhine, including Sittwe and Rathedaung, damaging or destroying homes, before moving inland where it brought severe flooding.
Vulnerable people continue to seek shelter in evacuation centers and monasteries in the aftermath of the cyclone.
In the past two days, the World Food Programme has delivered emergency food assistance to some 6,000 IDPs and people sheltering in cyclone shelters in the Rakhine capital Sittwe. Shelter support has also been delivered to communities in need and mobile health teams have been treating people in the field.
Humanitarians have been working to gauge the full
impact of the cyclone in areas where they have access
while partners await approval for coordinated field missions that would allow for the wider-scale distribution of assistance based on observed need.
The limited availability and soaring prices for essential items, especially shelter materials, are presenting significant challenges for those trying to reconstruct their damaged homes and shelters with the monsoon looming.
Although fuel supplies have arrived in some areas, a shortage of crucial public services, such as health facilities and water treatment, persists.
Awareness-raising messages are being disseminated in a bid to prevent waterborne diseases and casualties from landmines in flooded areas.
Urgent funding is required to meet the significant needs arising from Cyclone Mocha. Currently, the existing US$764 million Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) is only 10 per cent funded.
On 18 May, the Emergency Relief Coordinator has approved an allocation of $10m from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support the response to cyclone Mocha in Myanmar.
Situation Overview
Five days have passed since Cyclone Mocha struck Myanmar’s west, causing extensive damage and significantly affecting millions of people across Rakhine and the Northwest. Some parts of Kachin and northern Shan also experienced heavy rains and strong winds associated with the cyclone as the weather system moved inland. Electricity and telecommunication services are still unreliable in the affected townships.
Vulnerable people, including women, expectant mothers, children and the elderly, many of whom have not previously experienced displacement, are seeking shelter in evacuation centers and monasteries after being left homeless by the cyclone. Those who have returned home are facing the daunting task of rebuilding their damaged houses with limited available resources. Although some markets have re-opened, the soaring prices of basic shelter materials, such as tarpaulins, aluminum sheets, and nails, has made this task unaffordable for most people in these very impoverished parts of the country. For instance, the cost of a tarpaulin sheet has more than doubled, increasing from MMK 40,000 ($19) before the cyclone to MMK 97,000 ($46). Food costs are also soaring. For example, the price of one bag of rice has also increased from MMK 80,000 ($38) before the cyclone to MMK120,000 ($57). Such a sharp increases cannot be absorbed by most families.
Humanitarian partners have begun reaching people with support based on field observations in various townships where they had previously approved access or where there has been new access approved. On 18 May, the World Food Programme received permission to distribute emergency food in 8 townships: Sittwe, Kyauktaw, Ponngayun, Pauktaw, Rathedaung, Minbya, Meybon and Mrauk-U, as well as approval for assistance in Buthidaung and Maungdaw in northern Rakhine. It has been possible for partners to distribute some shelter assistance as well in locations where they had pre- existing operations and mobile health teams have been operational in affected communities. Humanitarians are seeking access for coordinated field missions to distribute wider assistance based on observations of the situation on the ground.
In recent days, initial humanitarian supplies have also been transported via trucks to Sittwe township from Yangon and humanitarians are exploring a range of approaches to try and move supplies to the impact zone from inside and outside the country, pending approval. Additionally, fuel supplies arrived in Sittwe city on 18 May and were distributed to gas stations. As of 19 May, gas stations are operational, and the price of fuel has dropped from MMK 2,700 (more than $1) to MMK 2,200 ($1). However, there is still a shortage of fuel, particularly for essential public services, such as health facilities and water treatment. Other critical needs include shelter, food aid, medical supplies, and healthcare services.
Concerns persist in flooded areas regarding the spread of waterborne disease and the movement of landmines in conflict areas. Humanitarian partners have preemptively developed awareness-raising messages in local languages around these concerns. These messages are being disseminated among affected communities in these areas to raise awareness and promote safety precautions..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-05-19
Date of entry/update:
2023-05-19
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Public Health, Human Rights and international relations, Cyclones - regional, Natural Disasters - General
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Format :
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782.96 KB 725.24 KB
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Description:
"Highlights
A massive clean-up effort is continuing in the aftermath of Cyclone Mocha that hit western Myanmar with brutal force on Sunday.
Millions of people live in the cyclone’s path, mostly in wooden shelters that were not built to ensure winds in excess of 200 kilometres per hour.
Coastal areas of Rakhine State bore the brunt of the cyclone, however partners now estimate almost 150,000 people in the country’s Northwest were also heavily affected, as well as a smaller number in Kachin. A total of 21 townships in Rakhine and Chin states have been declared affected by the cyclone, according to local authorities.
Electricity and telecommunication services remain interrupted in numerous townships in Rakhine and the Northwest.
Fuel is urgently needed for essential public services, particularly for health and water treatment. Clean water supplies are also getting low. Other pressing needs include shelter, food, and medicine, medical supplies and healthcare services.
There are ongoing negotiations for humanitarian access to people in need with all relevant stakeholders, while partners continue their field observations across Rakhine and prepare to begin coordinated field missions once granted approval.
Humanitarian actors have provided some initial support to affected communities across various townships in Rakhine where they had pre-existing approvals and operations. These efforts are directed towards both the affected Rakhine and Rohingya populations. Mobile health clinics have also begun operations.
As of 18 May, Sittwe Airport has re-opened, allowing commercial flights to arrive in Rakhine.
Resource mobilization efforts are underway, as more funding is crucial to address the huge needs emerging from the cyclone. The pre-existing US$764M Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) is only 10 per cent funded which does not yet include the cost of responding to cyclone Mocha.
Situation Overview
Millions of people live in the path of the cyclone and a massive effort is now underway to clear debris and provide shelter to those whose homes have been damaged or destroyed. Coastal Rakhine took the heaviest hit from the cyclone with severe impacts across the northwest and some damage in Kachin also reported. As of 16 May, authorities declared 21 townships across Rakhine (17) and Chin (4) to be impacted by the cyclone. Many areas in Rakhine are still deprived of electricity and reliable telecommunication services, more than four days after the cyclone hit.
Partners have conducted field observations in multiple areas, including Sittwe and other townships to get a better sense of the impact in different locations. Once access is granted, the humanitarian actors are prepared to undertake coordinated field missions to gain a more comprehensive view of the situation. Humanitarian organizations have also been able to provide some preliminary support to communities affected by the cyclone where they had prior operations and approved access.
In Sittwe, the first signs of recovery are visible with the reopening of markets, shops, and restaurants. Urgent repairs to bridges connecting IDP camps in Sittwe are needed for the movement of the population and humanitarian access. Options for these repairs are being explored.
Various sources continue to document casualties and people who are missing, including some IDPs. It is crucial to ensure people who died in the cyclone are laid to rest with dignity. Partners highlight an urgent need for fuel to ensure the running of key public services, notably health and water treatment. Clean water supplies are a concern. Other critical needs include shelter, food aid, medical supplies, and healthcare services. In flooded areas, concerns persist about the spread of waterborne disease and the movement of landmines.
Rakhine
According to the Health Cluster, mobile clinics have begun operating in some of the affected townships, and rapid response teams have been deployed to Thet Kae Pyin, Thae Chaung, and Dar Paing IDP camps.
Most health facilities were affected, resulting in a shortage of medicines, medical supplies and health staff. Many laboratories and operating theatres in Sittwe township are non-functional. Urgent fuel supply is needed.
Healthcare for expectant mothers has suffered across all townships due to damaged hospitals and clinics, highlighting an urgent need for sexual and reproductive health services.
An estimated 80 per cent of the public schools in Ponnagyun township were damaged.
Seven nutrition centers located in Sittwe and inside IDP camps have been damaged.
The destruction of shelters and latrines, combined with a lack of electricity, heightens the risk of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), especially in IDP camps.
Most GBV centers within the IDP camps in Sittwe have also been impacted. Temporary solutions are being explored to maintain case management services and referrals.
Pre-existing activities by humanitarian partners are being refocused to assist those impacted by the cyclone, including the distribution of drinking water, relief items, and child protection and hygiene kits in collaboration with local partners. Water trucking efforts by humanitarian partners will begin once approved.
Northwest
Partners report that in Chin, approximately 1,800 houses, 19 churches, 30 schools, and 5 hospitals were either completely or partially destroyed across Falam, Hakha, Kanpetlet, Matupi, Mindat, Paletwa, Tedim, Thantlang, and Tonzang townships due to the cyclone. Consequently, approximately 500 people were displaced and 50,000 people were otherwise affected.
In Sagaing, the impact of strong winds has reportedly affected approximately 85,000 people across Kale, Khin-U, Pale, Wetlet, and Yinmarbin townships, according to partners. The already challenging situation has been exacerbated by ongoing conflict and the presence of troops in the region, making it even more difficult for affected people to find safe shelter.
In Magway, approximately 11,000 households from 8 townships were affected; local partners have provided food, tarpaulins, and clothes to some 1,000 households so far.
In Mandalay, more than 200 people have been affected as their houses were swept away by strong winds and flooding.
There are urgent needs for food, shelter materials, clothing, WASH items, and medicines reported among the affected population in the Northwest. However, the response from partners is constrained by limited access, roadblocks, and ongoing conflict..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-05-18
Date of entry/update:
2023-05-18
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Human Rights and international relations, Public Health, Cyclones - regional, Natural Disasters - General
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
463.98 KB
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Description:
"Highlights
The gradual restoration of communications is allowing humanitarian teams to gather a clearer picture of the impact of on millions of people who were in the path of Cyclone Mocha that hit Myanmar with brutal force on Sunday afternoon.
Widescale destruction of homes and public infrastructure throughout Rakhine state is being seen, including in the capital Sittwe and in Rathedaung where there are scenes of widespread devastation.
Partners continued observations in various locations in Sittwe and other townships and are ready to start coordinated field missions to gauge the full scope of the humanitarian situation, as soon as access is granted.
Urgent needs include shelter, clean water, food assistance and healthcare services. There are rising concerns in flooded areas about the spread of waterborne disease and the movement of landmines.
The lack of electricity in certain areas, as well as physical and bureaucratic access constraints, continue to be a challenge. Several bridges providing access to displacement camps in Sittwe have been washed away and are hampering movement.
The road between Yangon and Sittwe has now reopened, potentially providing a transport route for much-needed supplies, if approved. It is also hoped the Sittwe airport will re-open on Thursday.
The impact of the cyclone was also felt heavily in the country’s northwest where houses were blown or washed away. Strong winds and rains have also damaged camps for displaced people in Kachin State.
Efforts are under way to mobilize resources for the response, but an urgent injection of funds is needed with the $764M Humanitarian Response Plan just 10 per cent funded..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-05-17
Date of entry/update:
2023-05-17
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Cyclones - regional, Natural Disasters - General
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
697.25 KB
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Description:
"Highlights
Communities continue to clean up and are assessing the damage inflicted by Cyclone Mocha. Almost 5.4 million people are estimated to have been in the path of the cyclone across Rakhine and the Northwest. Of these, early estimates indicate that nearly 3.2 million are considered to be most vulnerable and are considered likely to have humanitarian needs.
Public infrastructure, including hospitals, banks and religious buildings, was badly damaged across the impact zone.
Health, relief items, shelter, clean water, sanitation and hygiene needs are being reported across the board.
In-kind food assistance, rather than cash, is being requested by the affected people as prices for key commodities have gone up exponentially.
Explosive ordnance risks are high in conflict-affected rural areas where landmines may have shifted during flooding and as people have been on the move to safer areas.
Humanitarian partners continue with their field observations in various locations in Sittwe and other townships.
Rapid needs assessments (RNAs) and some preliminary distributions will start once approval is granted in six priority townships in Rakhine, which are considered most affected.
More than 1,200 houses are reported to be completely or partially destroyed in townships across Chin.
Severe flooding has affected more than 100,000 people in villages in Magway and Sagaing. Floodwaters have damaged infrastructure and agricultural fields and washed away animals and personal belongings.
An urgent injection of funds is desperately needed to facilitate a full-scale response to the impact of the cyclone and subsequent flooding. The pre-existing US$764M Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) is only 10 per cent funded which does not yet include the cost of responding to cyclone Mocha.
Situation Overview
Significant information gaps still exist. Broken communications lines continue to hinder connections with affected communities, and partners report that some villages are still completely cut off from the internet. By the end of 16 May, telephone lines have partially been restored which will facilitate communication with affected communities and between humanitarian personnel. In many townships in Rakhine, as well as in Paletwa township in southern Chin, a number of organizations continue to face challenges in establishing contact with their staff and partners.
Almost 5.4 million people are estimated to have been in the path of the cyclone, enduring winds in excess of 90 kmph across Rakhine and the Northwest. Of these, nearly 3.2 million are considered to be most vulnerable to the cyclone impact based on analysis of shelter quality, food insecurity and coping capacity. This group is highly likely to have humanitarian needs in the wake of the cyclone.
There are local reports of possible deaths and of people being missing, including IDPs. The UN and its partners are working to start rapid needs assessments as soon as access is granted to better understand the impact of the disaster. Negotiations for access are ongoing.
Reports continue to come in of immediate needs for relief items, shelter, in-kind food, health and WASH support. Concern about waterborne disease outbreaks is high, and close monitoring will be critical. Explosive ordnance risk education and hygiene awareness will also be required, along with psychological support.
Survivors have been sharing harrowing tales of their experiences at the height of the cyclone and their concerns about the rebuilding challenges ahead. “I moved to the evacuation site with my family, seeking safety. After the storm subsided, I went back alone to check on our house. It was completely destroyed. Those who stayed in the camp told me that it was horrible and that their houses were destroyed; they were stranded, unsure where to seek refuge amid these difficult conditions. The camp itself was submerged in water. Several people sustained injuries and are in need of medical care. The people need clean water and food. We also need support to rebuild our houses so we can come back,” shared one of the IDP in Dar Paing Rohingya camp..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-05-16
Date of entry/update:
2023-05-16
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Natural Disasters - General, Cyclones - regional, Climate Change - Burma/Myanmar: general, Climate Change - Migration Global
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"Highlights
• Communities have spent the day cleaning up and counting the cost of Extremely Severe Cyclone Mocha that smashed Myanmar’s western states and regions on Sunday and continues to bring heavy rain in some areas as a depression.
• Mocha was one of the strongest cyclones ever to hit the country and has left a trail of devastation, particularly in the state capital, Sittwe.
• Few houses have escaped damage in Sittwe and there is widespread destruction of flimsy bamboo longhouses in displacement camps.
• Health, relief items, shelter, and water, sanitation, and hygiene needs are already being reported. Explosive ordnance risks are high in conflict-affected rural areas where landmines may have been shifted during flooding and where people have been on the move to safer areas.
• Communications with partners on the ground was partially restored during the day but still remains limited after extensive damage to telecommunications towers. Water and power services have been badly interrupted all day with generators now the primary source of electricity for most people due to downed lines.
• Humanitarian partners are working to start rapid needs assessments (RNAs) in the field on 16 May to confirm the magnitude of impact from the cyclone and the immediate assistance that is required. A priority will be assessing the damage in the following locations: Sittwe, Pauktaw, Rathedaung, Maungdaw,
Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw.
• Early reports have also started coming in of widespread flooding and needs in the Northwest – an area that is also heavily conflict-affected.
• An urgent injection of funds is desperately needed to facilitate a full-scale response to the impact of the cyclone and subsequent flooding. To date, the US$764M Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) is only 10 per cent funded.
Situation Overview
The Extremely Severe Cyclone Mocha crossed the coast between Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh and Kyaukpyu township, near Rakhine’s capital of Sittwe in Myanmar at lunchtime on 14 May.
Winds were estimated as high as 250 kmph.
Communications with teams on the ground are still limited but early reports suggest the damage is significant, particularly in Rakhine, and that needs across all communities will be high.
Extremely strong winds brought down power lines, uprooted trees, and damaged and destroyed houses. Storm surge knocked out bridges and inundated homes. In Sittwe, most housing is thought to have been damaged in some way and many flimsy long houses in IDP camps have been destroyed.
In addition to immediate NFI, shelter, and WASH needs, the affected population will require prompt emergency healthcare, including lifesaving and trauma care and continuous primary healthcare services (maternal and child healthcare and non-communicable diseases care). Psychosocial First Aid for affected people after the disaster is also critical. The potential for communicable disease outbreaks in affected areas is high, requiring close monitoring. Moreover, landmines and other explosive remnants of war pose risks to communities moving to safer areas or returning home. The ongoing flooding and landslides can dislodge or carry the devices to locations previously deemed safe.
Rakhine
• On 15 May, the Rakhine State de facto authorities under Section 11 of the National Disaster Management Act declared all 17 townships in Rakhine to have been affected by the cyclone.
• Affected communities have spent the day cleaning up the debris strewn across the area, especially in Sittwe which took a direct hit from the cyclone on Sunday.
• Houses across Sittwe and other towns in Rakhine have lost roofs, walls and sheeting. Displacement camps and sites are particularly badly damaged.
• Based on field staff observations in Sittwe, shelter and WASH assistance are priority needs across all communities.
One partner reported significant damage to latrines and shelter in IDP sites in Kyauktaw and Ponnagyun townships.
There are unconfirmed reports of people missing in some IDP camps in Sittwe township, including Basara, Dar Pai, and Thae Chaung IDP camp, which flooded heavily due to proximity to the coast. Three bridges near Dar Pai, Thae Chaung, and Thet Kae Pyin IDP camps have collapsed. Fishing boats were also smashed together during the cyclone.
• Some of the IDPs are still staying in cyclone shelters near the camps, with some reports of injuries and needs for medical treatment. Those staying in temporary shelters, such as schools, require assistance.
• Movement is challenging and debris clearance is ongoing. Heavy traffic was reported during the day due to large numbers of people returning to their Sittwe homes from inland areas, combined with debris on the roads. Local fire brigades and charity groups/volunteers were seen clearing streets in Maungdaw, Mrauk-U, and Sittwe townships.
• Many people remain in evacuation shelters, although there are reports that families have started to return to their homes to assess the damage, including some 6,000 people in Mrauk-U who had been evacuated on 14 May. The Thein Nyo displacement site hosting around 2,860 IDPs in Mrauk-U was reportedly destroyed, along with 80 houses in the host community, according to local media reports. This is to be confirmed.
• The Mytel phone network is reportedly working intermittently in Kyauktaw township, and reports from there indicate significant damage. Local media reported near total damage to some 260 houses in Oke Kyut village in Kyauktaw township. Also in Kyauktaw, 2 school buildings providing free education to more than 600 students were reportedly destroyed by the cyclone. This damage is to be confirmed.
• In Minbya township, around 40 houses in Tha Yet Oke village were destroyed, according to local media.
• Township authorities have reportedly been deployed to assess initial damage in villages in Rakhine.
• Limited information has been received from the northern townships of Buthidaung and Maungdaw due to telecoms being down, where more than half of the shelters are either temporary or semipermanent, placing households at very high risk in case they were not able to reach evacuation centres.
A major clean-up operation was underway in Maungdaw during the day according to partners, as the community attempted to clear fallen trees that were blocking roads. There are no reports of flooding the Maungdaw downtown area but the situation in the countryside is not yet known.
• In Ponnagyun, the OCHA field team observed that most houses were collapsed and damaged in Kun Taung, Pa Day Thar, Sin Inn Gyi, and Ywar Thar Yar, including heavy damage to roofs. So far, there have been no reports of death or injuries there by local communities..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-05-15
Date of entry/update:
2023-05-15
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Public Health, Cyclones - regional, Natural Disasters - General
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1.7 MB
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"(Myanmar, 14 May 2023)- The United Nations and its humanitarian partners are standing ready to provide lifesaving disaster assistance to communities hit by Cyclone Mocha which is forecast to make landfall in Myanmar’s Rakhine State later today.
“Communities are bracing for the arrival of this extremely severe cyclone which is expected to be packing winds gusting to 210 kmph when it crosses the coast,” Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. Ramanathan Balakrishnan said.
The cyclone is forecast to bring strong winds and significant storm surge to coastal areas in Rakhine and evacuations of low-lying areas are already well underway through local authorities. The large weather system is expected to then move inland, bringing heavy rain in areas where there is a high risk of landslides and flooding.
Even before the cyclone, an estimated 6 million people are already in humanitarian need in the states where impacts are currently projected (Rakhine, Chin, Magway and Sagaing). Collectively, these states in the country’s west host 1.2 million displaced people, many of whom are fleeing conflict and are living in the open without proper shelter. It will also be a dangerous 24 hours for hundreds of thousands of refugees in camps in Bangladesh who are also likely to face strong winds and heavy rain as the cyclone passes just over the border in Myanmar.
“For a cyclone to hit an area where there is already such deep humanitarian need is a nightmare scenario, impacting hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people whose coping capacity has been severely eroded by successive crises,” Mr Balakrishnan said.
The humanitarian community activated its Emergency Response Preparedness Plan at the start of the week and has been engaging with all stakeholders to ensure readiness to respond. Aid organizations have been working around the clock to get humanitarian assistance to the areas most likely to be impacted and make sure affected communities know how to keep themselves safe.
“We have done everything we can to prepare by pre-positioning personnel and available stocks across the affected area so that we are ready to respond as soon as the cyclone has passed. Access to affected people and increased funding will be critical to making this assistance possible over the critical days ahead,” the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator a.i noted.
The Myanmar Humanitarian Response Plan.) is less than 10 per cent funded with some essential sectors not yet receiving any funding yet this year.
“An urgent injection of funding is desperately needed so that we can ensure no one is left behind as a result of this cyclone but also so that we can keep responding to the 17.6 million people already in need as a result of other crises nationwide. I urge donors to give generously in support of the people of Myanmar at this difficult time,” Mr Balakrishnan said..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-05-14
Date of entry/update:
2023-05-14
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Cyclones - regional, Natural Disasters - General, Climate Change - Burma/Myanmar: general, Climate Change - Migration Global
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pdf
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226.06 KB
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Description:
"Highlights
Extremely Severe Cyclone Mocha continues to intensify in the Bay of Bengal and will likely cross the coast between Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh and Kyaukpyu township, Myanmar’s Rakhine State during the afternoon on 14 May with winds gusting up to 200 kmph.
Heavy rain and strong winds associated with the cyclone are expected to cause flooding across Rakhine, where many townships and displacement sites are in low-lying areas and highly prone to flooding.
Many communities are already moving to higher ground to designated evacuation centers or to safer areas staying with relatives.
Humanitarian organizations are gearing up for a large-scale emergency response at the national level, as well as in Rakhine and the Northwest (Chin, Mayway, Sagaing), pending timely and unhindered access. Advocacy on access and supply importation issues is underway.
Refresher training sessions have been conducted on Rapid Needs Assessments to over 400 humanitarian actors across Rakhine and the Northwest in the past two days to ensure a coordinated response.
An urgent injection of funds is desperately needed to facilitate a full-scale response to the impacts of the cyclone and any subsequent flooding. To date, the US$764M Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) is only 10 per cent funded
Situation Overview
As of 13 May, cyclone Mocha has moved further north-northeastwards over the Bay of Bengal and intensified to an extremely severe cyclone. It is very likely to move further north-northeastwards and intensify further over the east-central Bay of Bengal. It is forecast to cross the coast between Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh and Kyaukpyu township in Myanmar around noon on 14 May. The cyclone is expected to land with a maximum sustained wind speed of 170-180 kmph, gusting to over 200 kmph. Thereafter it is expected to continue further north-northeastwards towards Chin and Sagaing in Myanmar which are at high risk from landslides. Flood warnings are being issued in many areas across all townships in Rakhine with storm surge as high as 3 meters.
After the local authorities issued evacuation advice for low-lying and coastal areas in Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Myebon,
Pauktaw, and Sittwe townships in Rakhine, more than 100,000 people, including some displaced people, moved to designated evacuation shelters by 13 May. Many others have moved to stay with relatives on higher ground. In the Northwest, as of 13 May several buildings, including monasteries, schools, and religious sites were designated as evacuation centers by local authorities in light of the expected impact of cyclone Mocha in Chin, Magway and Sagaing.
“For the past two days, we have seen many families leaving the low-lying areas of Sittwe town in tuk-tuks and small trucks moving to safer places. They are seeking safety inland in other townships or in the designated evacuation sites in Sittwe town. During our visit to one of the monasteries in town today, we met with families who already moved to the monastery. They moved with limited belongings and dry food for a few nights,” shared one of the OCHA field team members in Sittwe.
OCHA is following up with the local authorities to ensure all communities are relocated before the cyclone makes landfall. Flights to Rakhine were already cancelled and Sittwe airport is now closed..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-05-13
Date of entry/update:
2023-05-13
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Cyclones - regional, Natural Disasters - General, Climate Change - Burma/Myanmar: general, Climate Change - Migration Global
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pdf
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355.28 KB
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Description:
"Highlights
Communities and humanitarian organizations in Myanmar are preparing for the likely arrival of Cyclone Mocha which has formed in the Bay of Bengal and is predicted to make landfall this weekend.
While the track and intensity of the cyclone are still evolving, most forecasts currently have the cyclone crossing the coast between Kyaukphyu in Myanmar’s Rakhine State and Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh on Sunday.
This cyclone impact area in Rakhine is low-lying and highly prone to flooding. Heavy rains and strong winds are later expected to hit inland communities in the Northwest which are also prone to landslides and flooding.
The Myanmar humanitarian Emergency Response Preparedness Plan has been activated nationwide since the start of the week. Humanitarian organizations, especially in Rakhine, have ramped up their preparedness efforts and have been pre-positioning personnel and supplies wherever possible. Preparedness is also being stepped up in the Northwest.
OCHA is engaging with all relevant stakeholders to ensure timely and unimpeded access to those in need.
Across Rakhine and the Northwest, there are already about six million people in need of humanitarian assistance and 1.2 million people displaced, even before the cyclone hits.
An urgent injection of funds is desperately needed to facilitate a full-scale response to the Cyclone and any subsequent flooding. To date, the US$764M Humanitarian Response Plan is only 10 per cent funded.
Situation Overview
On 11 May, the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS) issued a Red Storm Alert for Cyclone Mocha, which has formed in the Bay of Bengal and is currently forecast to cross the coast between Kyaukphyu in Myanmar and Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh on 14 May with maximum sustained wind speeds of 150-160 kmph, gusting to 175 kmph. A significant storm surge is expected to accompany the cyclone of 2-2.7m. Evacuation advice has been issued by local authorities in Rakhine for low-lying and coastal areas in Sittwe, Pauktaw, Myebon, Maungdaw and Buthidaung with many people already starting to move ahead of the storm. Associated heavy rains and strong winds are expected to affect Rakhine and areas of high displacement further inland in northwest Myanmar.
This is the first cyclone to threaten Myanmar this Monsoon season and there are grave concerns about the impact especially on the already vulnerable and displaced communities with reduced coping capacity. Of particular worry is the situation facing 232,100 people who are displaced across Rakhine. Many of the IDP camps and sites in Rakhine are located in low-lying coastal areas susceptible to storm surge. The suffering of more than a million displaced people and other communities in the Northwest is also expected to worsen over the coming days as the ex-cyclone moves inland bringing heavy rain. Displaced people in the Northwest are already living in precarious conditions in camps, displacement sites or in forests often without proper shelter. According to the 2023 Myanmar Humanitarian Needs Overview, there are already 6 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in the most likely affected areas of Rakhine (1.7M) and the Northwest (4.3M – Chin, Magway and Sagaing)..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-05-12
Date of entry/update:
2023-05-12
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Cyclones - regional, Natural Disasters - General
Language:
Format :
pdf
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409.22 KB
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Description:
"This regular update, covering humanitarian developments up to 30 April, is produced by OCHA Myanmar in collaboration with the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group and UN agencies. Response figures are based on self-reporting by organizations to clusters. The next humanitarian update will be issued at the end of May 2023.
HIGHLIGHTS & KEY MESSAGES
• Ongoing hostilities across Myanmar continue to endanger civilians, increase humanitarian needs and drive new displacement.
• More than 1.8 million remain displaced across the country. In the Northwest, the number of internally displaced people (IDPs) has exceeded 1 million.
• New displacement was triggered after an airstrike in Sagaing on 11 April in which more than 170 people, including children, were killed.
• Humanitarian operations continue to be hampered by physical and administrative obstacles.
• Camp closure and encouragement to return have continued despite protection concerns from displaced people. In Rakhine, the de facto authorities started relocating families from Kyauk Ta Lone camp to the new relocation site and aim to close the camp by mid-May.
• Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) outbreaks were reported in IDP camps in Demoso and Hpruso townships in Kayah and in southern Shan in March. The risk for AWD outbreaks remains high ahead of the monsoon season.
• Therapeutic nutrition and micronutrient supplies are at risk of running out in September due to a combination of import taxation issues and underfunding.
• Four months into 2023, the US$764m Myanmar Humanitarian Response Plan is less than ten per cent funded. Some clusters have received no funding so far this year and are operating only using carryover funding from the end of 2022 which will soon run out. Generous funding is imperative to meet the needs across Myanmar.
KEY FIGURES
1.8M
Total people currently internally displaced across Myanmar
1.5M
People currently displaced by clashes and insecurity since February 2021
328K
People internally displaced due to conflict prior to February 2021, mainly in Rakhine, Kachin, Chin, and Shan
60K
Civilian properties estimated burnt or destroyed since February 2021.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
The security and humanitarian situations in Myanmar have continued to worsen amid ongoing fighting across multiple states, particularly in Kachin, the Northwest and Southeast. There are now more than 1.8 million displaced people across the country, as of 1 May, according to UN figures. IDPs are in urgent need of critical and lifesaving assistance. Humanitarian partners on the ground are responding to their needs, using various modalities in the face of mounting restrictions and risks.
Moves continue by the de facto authorities to close IDP camps and encourage returns continue in various parts of the country, including Kachin, Shan, Chin and Rakhine. Many IDPs report that they do not feel safe returning to their places of origin due to ongoing fighting, explosive ordnance risks, interruptions to services and lack of livelihoods. The movement of IDPs out of the Kyauk Ta Lone (KTL) Camp in Kyaukpyu township in Rakhine has begun with plans to have the camp closed by mid-May. In northern Shan, the closure of 15 IDP camps in Kutkai, Namhkan and Namtu townships is underway, and in southern Shan, displaced families from Kayah who were displaced in Nyaungshwe township had to move to other sites in April.
Humanitarian partners continue to provide critical and lifesaving assistance to affected and displaced people across the country, prioritizing 4.5 million out of the 17.6 million people in need in 2023. Simultaneously, the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to advocate for the end of violence, unimpeded and predictable access to people in need, and safe and voluntary return of IDPs. Generous funding of the humanitarian response, as outlined in the US$764m Myanmar Humanitarian Response Plan is urgently required..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-05-06
Date of entry/update:
2023-05-06
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
1.05 MB
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Description:
"This regular update, covering humanitarian developments up to 27 February, is produced by OCHA Myanmar in collaboration with the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group and UN agencies. Response figures are based on self-reporting by organizations to clusters. The next humanitarian update will be issued at the end of March 2023.
HIGHLIGHTS & KEY MESSAGES
• Humanitarian needs are rising across Myanmar and the operational environment is tightening. Martial law is now declared in 47 townships across multiple states and regions.
• Concerns persist around the impact of new registration requirements on humanitarian operations.
• In the first two months of 2023, more than 154,000 people have been internally displaced and are living in precarious conditions in camps and informal sites often in jungles and forests. This brings the total number of IDPs since the military takeover to 1.3 million. As of 27 February, more than 1.6 million remain displaced from previous and current conflicts.
• Heavy fighting continues, particularly in Kachin, the Southeast, and Northwest, endangering lives and hampering humanitarian operations.
• The ceasefire between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) in Rakhine is still holding and the access environment has improved.
• Humanitarians reached a record 4.4 million people with assistance in 2022, however the support was not as deep or multi-sectoral as planned due to access constraints and severe underfunding.
• Some 17.6 million people - nearly one third of the population - are estimated to be in humanitarian need in 2023. The humanitarian community has prioritized support for 4.5 million people with severe needs, predominantly in conflict affected rural areas.
• Generous funding to the US$764m Humanitarian Response Plan for 2023 is critically important to make this work possible.
KEY FIGURES*
1.6M
Total people currently internally displaced across Myanmar
1.3M
People currently displaced by clashes and insecurity since February 2021
328K
People internally displaced due to conflict prior to February 2021, mainly in Rakhine, Kachin, Chin, and Shan
55K
Civilian properties estimated burnt or destroyed since February 2021.
*Displacement figures fluctuate during any given month. These figures represent the number of people currently verified as displaced. Cumulative numbers for returns and displacement are not always available.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
Two months into 2023, reports of civilian casualties, displacement and destruction of civilian properties have continued. As of 27 February 2023, more than 1.6 million remained displaced across the country, according to the latest UN figures. This includes more than 1.3 million people who were displaced since the military takeover and more than 328,000 people who were displaced from previous conflicts. Of the total IDPs since the military takeover, the Northwest is hosting the highest number - now 915,000 people - followed by the Southeast - 379,200 people. IDPs are living in precarious situations in camps and informal sites, often in jungles and forests, with large-scale returns impossible due to the intensity of fighting, landmines, destruction of homes through aerial bombardment, and loss of livelihoods.
Humanitarian partners estimate that 17.6 million people are in need in 2023. The 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan targets 4.5 million people with the most severe needs, predominantly in conflict-affected rural areas. This will require the removal of physical and bureaucratic impediments to humanitarian access and more generous funding than was received last year (41 per cent of requirements in 2022). Two months into 2023, the humanitarian response plan is only two per cent funded. Generous funding for humanitarian interventions this year is critical.
In 2022, humanitarians were able to reach a record 4.4 million people, including 750,00 IDPs, with at least one form of assistance, at least once, however the assistance wasn’t as deep, multi-sectoral or sustained as planned due to underfunding and severe access constraints. This reach includes 900,000 people in the Southeast, more than 660,000 people in Rakhine, more than 500,000 people in the Northeast and almost 270,000 people in the Northwest..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-03-04
Date of entry/update:
2023-03-04
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations, UN System humanitarian assistance
Language:
Format :
pdf
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487.13 KB
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Description:
"This regular update, covering humanitarian developments up to 27 January, is produced by OCHA Myanmar in collaboration with the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group and UN agencies. Response figures are based on self-reporting by organizations to clusters. The next humanitarian update will be issued at the end of February 2023.
HIGHLIGHTS & KEY MESSAGES
• Two years since the 2021 military takeover, humanitarian needs are on the rise and the operational environment is further worsening.
• 17.6 million people - nearly one third of the population - are estimated to be in humanitarian need in 2023.
• The humanitarian community has launched a $764m Response Plan for 2023. It prioritizes 4.5 million people with severe needs for life saving support, predominantly in conflict-affected rural areas.
• Heavy fighting, including airstrikes, tight security, access restrictions, and threats against aid workers have continued unabated, particularly in the Southeast, endangering lives and hampering humanitarian operations.
• As of 23 January, 1.2 million people remain displaced by conflict and insecurity since the military takeover in February 2021, bringing the total number of internally displaced people (IDPs) across Myanmar to more than 1.5 million.
• Since the pause in fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) in Rakhine, the access environment has slowly improved although the ceasefire remains fragile.
• Humanitarians are closely monitoring the impact of new NGO registration requirements on the delivery of life-saving support in 2023.
• Despite severe access constraints and drastic underfunding, humanitarians were able to deliver life-saving assistance to more than 3.9 million people in 2022.
KEY FIGURES
1.5M Total people currently internally displaced across Myanmar
1.2M People currently displaced by clashes and insecurity since February 2021
330K People internally displaced due to conflict prior to February 2021, mainly in Rakhine, Kachin, Chin, and Shan
39K Civilian properties estimated burnt or destroyed since February 2021.
*Displacement figures fluctuate during any given month. These figures represent the number of people currently displaced. Cumulative numbers for returns and displacement are not always available.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
Two years since the 2021 military takeover, the people of Myanmar continue to endure a political, human rights, health, economic and humanitarian crisis that has caused civilian casualties and a surge in displacement, pushed thousands into poverty, and exposed people to daily protection threats.
The 2023 Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) estimates that 17.6 million - almost one in three Myanmar people - are now in humanitarian need. Increasing numbers of people are now facing daily protection threats and are living in fear amid the violence sweeping the country. In 2023, protection risks including killing and injury due to heavy fighting and landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW), arrest and detention, forced recruitment, and human trafficking among others, continue to prevail, especially in hardto-reach conflict areas. As of 23 January, 1.2 million people remain displaced by conflict and insecurity since the military takeover in February 2021, bringing the total number of internally displaced people (IDPs) across Myanmar to more than 1.5 million. With surging displacement, the resources of host communities and those on the move are being rapidly depleted. Nutritious food is becoming increasingly scarce and more unaffordable due to inflation. Parents are worrying about their children’s future prospects after years of missed schooling, while the sick are continuing to miss out on medicines and life-saving treatment because of health service interruptions. Stateless Rohingya people continue to face restrictions on their movement that have left them almost completely dependent on assistance for survival.
The grim situation outlined in the HNO makes a scaled-up, context-adapted, and people-centered humanitarian response essential in 2023 to prevent loss of life and reduce suffering. The 2023 Myanmar Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) requests US$764 million to reach 4.5 million people most in need of life-saving humanitarian support, predominantly in conflict-affected rural areas. The Plan is heavily prioritized and makes a compelling case for a more robust donor contribution to the response that will be delivered through a new fit-for-purpose coordination architecture and an enhanced localization strategy. The 2023 plan focuses on hard-to-reach rural areas and those with the most severe needs while being realistic about potential reach given access and capacity constraints. The Plan outlines the dire need for improved humanitarian access to conflict-affected areas and the removal of bureaucratic obstacles to the delivery of assistance. Heading into 2023, humanitarian organizations are facing an increasingly constrained operational environment. Bureaucratic and physical impediments to access are hampering the ability of humanitarian partners to provide protection and assistance. Humanitarians are closely monitoring the impacts of new NGO registration requirements introduced by the de facto authorities amid fears they will limit the ability of many organizations to deliver assistance and result in escalating unmet needs. The humanitarian community has proposed a six-month moratorium on implementation of the requirements to allow time to ensure services are not interrupted..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2023-02-02
Date of entry/update:
2023-02-02
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
646.82 KB
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Description:
"Highlights
Rising tensions between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and the Arakan Army (AA) in Rakhine and southern Chin since June have led to frequent armed clashes, including the use of heavy weapons and airstrikes. The renewed conflict follows a temporary ceasefire between the AA-MAF, which had been in place since November 2020.
Most of the fighting has been reported in Maungdaw, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, and Mrauk-U townships in Rakhine State and in Paletwa township in Chin State.
As of 5 September, almost 9,600 people have consequently been displaced, bringing the total number of internally displaced people (IDPs) from past and present AA-MAF fighting across Rakhine and Paletwa township in Chin State to nearly 84,000, according to UN latest figures.
Key roads and waterways have been blocked, restricting the movement of civilians and preventing humanitarian assistance from reaching people in need.
Local and international partners have been providing emergency assistance to affected people where access is permitted but many areas remain unreachable. Humanitarians need unimpeded access to affected areas and the removal of bureaucratic obstructions to allow for the delivery of timely, life-saving support to people in need.
Funding is urgently needed to replenish depleted supplies and address expected shortages, especially in food assistance, water and sanitation services, shelter and non-food items (NFIs) and health services for IDPs and other affected communities. Pre-positioning of stocks is critical given the escalation of clashes and movement restrictions on humanitarian actors..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2022-09-06
Date of entry/update:
2022-09-06
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Human Rights and international relations
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
1.88 MB
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Description:
"Changes in Context
The people of Myanmar continue to face an unprecedented political, human rights, and humanitarian crisis that is posing grave protection risks for civilians, limiting access to vital services including health and education, and driving deep food insecurity. Humanitarian needs have worsened across the country as conflict continues to rage, causing unprecedented levels of displacement, destruction of property, and land mine contamination especially in the country’s northwest and southeast and driving grave protection risks for civilians. Forced recruitment – including of children – is being increasingly reported. The use of heavy weapons, including air strikes and artillery fire, continues to claim lives and pose risks to the safety and security of civilians, while raids, random searches and arrests are of grave concern. The destruction of civilian properties, particularly homes, combined with the protracted fighting, is prolonging the displacement of IDPs and further degrading people’s fragile living conditions.
The arrival of the monsoon in the second quarter of the year has been a miserable time for the hundreds of thousands of displaced people living in informal sites and in the jungle or forest without proper shelter.
While there have been modest access openings, these are very localized, and the overall access environment remains heavily constrained with a strong reliance on and risk transfer to low-profile local responders.
Humanitarian operating space is under increasing threat from bureaucratic blockages imposed by the de facto authorities around registration, travel, banking, and visas. While the economy has shown a glimmer of improvement in the past few months, inflation is undermining this modest recovery at the household level with fuel and food becoming increasingly unaffordable and adding to financial stress in vulnerable households.
Expansion of conflict
In the first half of the year, fighting has further escalated across multiple states and regions in Myanmar, particularly in the Northwest and Southeast, with no signs of abating. According to the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, since the military takeover, nearly 2,000 civilians have been killed during hostilities and other fatal incidents, including as a result of landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERWs).1 Nearly 20,000 civilian properties, including houses, churches, monasteries, and schools, are estimated to have been destroyed during hostilities, although figures are difficult to verify.
The Northwest has seen the greatest intensification of conflict between the MAF and PDFs and the biggest surge in displacement since the original HRP was published. Now, more than half of all new IDPs are in the Northwest, with the heaviest concentration in Sagaing. There have been various waves of fighting in different states across the Southeast as the MAF has attempted to take control of EAO-controlled areas.
Across the Southeast, fighting intensified in January and February as the MAF intensified campaigns in Kayin and Kayah states. In Kayin state, combined MAF/Border Guard Forces and combined KNU/ PDF forces clashed frequently and intensely. Heavy artillery shelling and airstrikes in these areas caused mass displacement, including across the border into Thailand. During the same period fighting escalated substantially across nearly all of Kayah state between the MAF and the aligned Karenni resistance groups.
Loikaw town, in particular, experienced a sustained campaign of aerial bombardment that caused 80 per cent of the town to be displaced to other parts of Kayah state and southern Shan. Fighting also intensified throughout other parts of the Southeast, particularly during the second quarter, with heavy clashes and sudden spikes in displacement in Mon, Tanintharyi and eastern Bago between the MAF and aligned militia groups and the KNU and PDFs.
In Rakhine, a ceasefire between the MAF and Arakan Army (AA), continued to hold at mid-year but tensions are building with sporadic confrontations presenting the very real risk that the conflict could resume in the second half of the year. Intermittent clashes, numerous mine incidents, arrests, and counter-arrests on both sides have been reported with some smallscale displacement. Contingency planning has been undertaken in case the situation worsens..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2022-09-02
Date of entry/update:
2022-09-02
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Agriculture in Burma/Myanmar: general and research, Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
3.57 MB (Original version) - 43 pages
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Description:
"This regular update, covering humanitarian developments up to 25 August, is produced by OCHA Myanmar in collaboration with the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group and UN agencies. The next humanitarian update will be issued at the end of September 2022
HIGHLIGHTS & KEY MESSAGES
• Civilians continue to bear the brunt of the armed conflict while households are grappling with financial stress as a result of soaring inflation.
• Almost 1.3 million people are currently displaced across the country. This includes more than 974,000 people displaced by the conflict and insecurity since the military takeover last year.
• Tensions are rising in Rakhine state and southern Chin between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and the Arakan Army (AA) with concerns for the impact of a resumption in fullscale fighting on civilians. Funding is urgently needed to procure depleted supplies for both the ongoing response and to meet new needs both for displaced people and affected communities.
• Rising food prices and constrained agricultural production nationwide are contributing to deep food insecurity as items become more unaffordable for much of Myanmar’s population. Fertilizer and other farm inputs are now prohibitively expensive, lowering productivity at the same time that fuel challenges and conflict are making transportation of produce more difficult. Concerns remain regarding food availability during the upcoming lean season as conditions are expected to worsen.
• Low availability of some medical products is being reported due to import issues.
• Despite the ongoing challenges, humanitarian partners have continued to rapidly scale-up in response to new needs, reaching a total of 3.1 million people with at least one form of assistance in the first half year of 2022.
• However, due to a shortfall in funding and access constraints, partners are not able to deliver the depth of relief required and there are significant unmet needs.
• The 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) is only 17 per cent funded, leaving a gap of US$688 million (FTS) that is forcing partners to make tough decisions about prioritization of assistance. Worryingly, funding remains below 2021 levels despite a dramatic increase in needs in 2022..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2022-09-02
Date of entry/update:
2022-09-02
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
738.63 KB
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Description:
"This regular update, covering humanitarian developments up to 31 July, is produced by OCHA Myanmar in collaboration with the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group and UN agencies. The next humanitarian update will be issued in August 2022.
HIGHLIGHTS & KEY MESSAGES
• More than 1.2 million people are currently displaced across the country. This includes nearly 866,400 people displaced by the conflict and insecurity since the military takeover last year.
• Inflation in commodity prices, including for food, fuel, shelter materials and NFIs, remains a major concern to partners in addressing the needs of the most vulnerable. Interim measures are being applied to mitigate against its impact on humanitarian programming where possible, but communities are struggling in the face of cost pressures.
• Humanitarians are stepping up efforts to expand support to affected people in northwest Myanmar which hosts the majority of the country’s new IDPs (583,100 as of 25 July 2022).
• Contingency planning is underway as tensions escalate in Rakhine.
• The unstable security situation and cyclical displacement across the Southeast and Northwest are exacerbating mental health issues among children and their caregivers, generating increased need for child protection responses in these areas.
• In northern Shan, forced recruitment, extortion and landmines continue to put IDPs and host communities at risk.
• In Rakhine, there remain significant shelter gaps for displaced people. There are also significant deficits in water availability in the AA-MAF sites in Rakhine and Chin.
• In the Southeast, shelter and other humanitarian support is urgently needed for newly displaced people including 5,400 new IDPs in Kyaukkyi township in eastern Bago.
• The 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) is only 13 per cent funded prompting the need for prioritization in the second half of the year.
KEY FIGURES
1.2M People internally displaced across Myanmar
866K People currently displaced by clashes and insecurity since February 2021
346K People internally displaced due to conflict prior to February 2021, mainly in Rakhine, Kachin, Chin, and Shan
21K Civilian properties estimated burnt or destroyed since February 2021.
Displacement figures fluctuate during any given month. These figures represent the number of people currently displaced. Cumulative numbers for returns and displacement are not always available.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
The people of Myanmar continue to bear the brunt of ongoing hostilities and a crippling economic situation that has been compounded by increasing inflation since May. Both crises have entrenched people’s pre-existing vulnerabilities and generated new needs. There are currently, more than 1.2 million internally displaced people (IDPs) in camps and informal displacement sites across the country. Of those who are displaced, 866,4002 fled their homes since the 2021 military takeover. A further 346,600 people are in protracted displacement as a result of conflict prior to 2021, the majority of whom are in Rakhine State. Many of the new IDPs have been displaced multiple times. Many have been sheltering for months in the jungle, where it is difficult to reach them with humanitarian assistance, particularly during the rainy season.
During the past year, limited numbers of IDPs have managed to return to their places of origin, but this is sometimes short-lived and most people have been unable to return due to insecurity and ongoing hostilities in their places of origin, the destruction of their homes, or lack of livelihood opportunities. More than 21,000 civilian properties, including homes, churches, monasteries, and schools, have reportedly been destroyed since the military takeover.
Humanitarian partners are trying to reach 6.2 million people with life-saving assistance this year, including IDPs in conflict areas, wherever access is possible. Despite the ongoing access challenges and shortfalls in funding, humanitarian partners have been providing affected people with critical life-saving assistance, including emergency shelter and NFIs, food and livelihood assistance, health and nutrition, education, as well as protection services, including child protection, gender-based violence, legal aid and mine action, to alleviate their suffering and strengthen their resilience. Mid-year results are being finalized now and are expected to show at least 3 million people or almost half the 2022 target have been reached with humanitarian assistance since the beginning of the year. The Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG) is working to identify ways of expanding reach into under-served, high displacement areas, particularly in the Northwest where the response has been challenging. On 29 July, the HCT endorsed a proposal to proceed with the establishment of a sub-national ICCG for the Northwest to improve coordination and information sharing, as well as access advocacy.
Myanmar remains one of only four countries in the world classified by ACAPS as having “extreme” access constraints, alongside Eritrea, Ukraine and Yemen.3 A new analysis of the physical, conflict and stakeholder constraints that are affecting accessibility in different parts of the country has been produced by the Humanitarian Access Working Group.
The analysis indicates that humanitarian access is considered ‘difficult’ or ‘very difficult’ to at least 1.4 million people of the 6.2 million targeted for assistance this year. High-level efforts continue to advocate for access to these areas and donors are encouraged to support efforts by partners in underserved locations where needs are severe, on the understanding that this work may take longer, require more human resources and deliver results on a smaller scale because of the access constraints.
Several inter-agency needs monitoring missions have taken place in the first half of the year. In late June, several UN agencies visited one relocation site, one temporary displacement site and three protracted IDP camps in Kyaukme,
Manton and Namtu townships in northern Shan to assess the overall humanitarian situation of the IDPs and identify need and gaps in responses. Based on the findings of this mission, IDPs are in need of more vocational training activities to support their livelihoods. In Namtu township, IDPs are in need of desludging services and water purifying chemicals. Displaced children have access to public education in these two towns, and health services are also provided, but there is a need to scale-up. With the ongoing increase of commodity prices, the running costs for camps have become challenging within existing allocations, especially in protracted IDP camps and relocation sites in Manton and Namtu townships. The UN, in collaboration with its partners, including local organization, is currently arranging responses to the identified needs. The joint distribution mission to southern Shan that was scheduled for early July in response to a prior needs monitoring mission, remains pending due to travel authorization issues. Advocacy is underway to resolve this delay.
It is critical that humanitarian partners have unconditional, unimpeded and safe access to all affected people wherever they are in Myanmar. Funding is also critically needed, especially in light of the increasing inflation since May 2022, in order to save more lives, protect people and alleviate their suffering. As of 27 July, the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan is only 13 per cent funded, leaving a gap of $719 million (FTS) and clusters will be working to make difficult prioritization decisions for the second half of the year..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2022-07-31
Date of entry/update:
2022-07-31
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations
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"This regular update, covering humanitarian developments up to 21 June, is produced by OCHA Myanmar in collaboration with the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group and UN agencies. The next humanitarian update will be issued in July 2022.
HIGHLIGHTS & KEY MESSAGES
• The number of displaced men, women and children in Myanmar remains above one million. This includes nearly 760,000 people displaced by the conflict and insecurity since the military takeover in February last year.
• The monsoon season continues to cause heavy rain and flooding. In June in Kachin State, 600 people were relocated to higher grounds due to flooding. Responses by the de facto authorities and humanitarian partners are underway in high-risk areas.
• Humanitarians continue providing critical life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable people despite access challenges and limited funding. Concerted advocacy efforts have led to new, but modest access in the country’s southeast. Expanded access in hard-to reach areas across the southeast and the northwest (Chin, Sagaing and Magway) is still much needed.
• Inflation in commodity prices, including food, fuel, shelter materials and NFIs, remains a major concern to partners in addressing the needs of the most vulnerable people. Myanmar is particularly vulnerable to price hikes given its heavy dependence on importation of products.
• More than four million children—half of the school-aged children in Myanmar—have not accessed education for two full academic years.
• The limited availability of staff, health facilities and supplies are contributing to the worsening of maternal and child health outcomes and poor emergency health care. The monsoon season will increase the spread of communicable diseases, which requires urgent action and expansion of basic primary health care and preventive measures.
• Approximately 71,600 internally displaced people (IDPs) in MAF-AA displacement sites in Rakhine State lack treatment programs for malnourished children and pregnant and lactating women. This is a critical gap given levels of malnutrition in IDP communities in Rakhine State.
• The funding situation for 2022 remains dire with the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) only 11 per cent funded six months into the year. This leaves a gap of US$740m (FTS), negatively affecting the breadth and quality of assistance delivered by humanitarians.
KEY FIGURES *
1M People internally displaced across Myanmar
758K People currently displaced by clashes and insecurity since February 2021
346K People internally displaced mainly in Rakhine, Kachin, Chin, and Shan due to conflict prior to February 2021
18K Civilian properties estimated burnt or destroyed since February 2021.
*Displacement figures fluctuate during any given month. These figures represent the number of people currently displaced. Cumulative numbers for returns and displacement are not always available.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
Fighting has escalated across multiple states and regions in Myanmar, particularly in the southeast and northwest during the reporting period, with no signs of abating. Nearly, 2,000 civilians were killed during hostilities and other fatal incidents, including landmines and explosive remnant of war (ERWs) since the military takeover. The number of IDPs has also continued to increase despite some reported returns. According to UN figures, the estimated number of IDPs since the military takeover has passed 758,000, including more than 250,000 children bringing the total number of IDP across the country to over 1,100,000. Over 40,000 people remain in neighbouring countries since the takeover. More than 18,058 civilian properties, including houses, churches, monasteries, and schools are estimated to have been destroyed during hostilities, although figures are difficult to verify. The level of destruction of civilian properties, particularly homes, combined with the seemingly never-ending fighting will very likely prolong the displacement of the IDPs and would further deteriorate their already fragile living conditions.
The current volatile security situation and its associated restrictions, such as bureaucratic processes, systematic blocks on access approvals, continue to hamper humanitarian access and delay the delivery of assistance. People’s suffering across the country will be prolonged. Despite these obstacles, humanitarian partners, including local partners, continue to stay and deliver critical and life-saving assistance to address both pre-existing and new emerging needs of the most affected people, including IDPs and host community, wherever possible. These include responses to temporary evacuated people who are affected by this year’s monsoon season. In parallel, recent concerted advocacy efforts to gain principled access have borne fruits in the past two months and partners managed to reach areas previously not fully accessible in Kayah, reaching tens of thousands of people with shelter, NFI, hygiene and food assistance. A multisector needs identification mission of the displaced population from Kayah to southern Shan was also possible. This will be followed by a multi-sectoral distribution at the end of June/early July. It is hoped that these openings could be a step towards broader access in hard-to-reach areas across the southeast. Despite these modest improvements, overall access to conflict areas remains a challenge especially in areas outside the control of the State Administration Council (SAC). Humanitarian access to the northwest also remains heavily restricted although some support is reaching people at a modest scale.
On top of access constraints, funding remains critical to provide the breadth and quality of humanitarian assistance. Six months into 2022, the Humanitarian Response Plan is only 11 per cent funded, leaving a gap of US$740m (FTS). The ability of humanitarian partners to save more lives and reduce suffering throughout the remainder of the year will be dependent on increased funding, improved access approvals, application of creative, flexible funding and response modalities, as well as the removal or easing of the bottlenecks such as visa delays and banking restrictions..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2022-06-28
Date of entry/update:
2022-06-28
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Human Rights and international relations
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"HIGHLIGHTS & KEY MESSAGES
• For the first time, the number of displaced men, women and children in Myanmar has exceeded one million. This includes almost 700,000 people displaced by the conflict and insecurity since the military takeover in February last year.
• The monsoon season is now in full swing with strong storms and heavy rain hitting Rakhine, Kachin, southern Shan, and Kayin since April, causing damage to shelters and further compounding existing vulnerabilities.
Humanitarian responses and preparedness efforts are underway in high-risk areas.
• Humanitarians continue providing critical life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable people despite access challenges and limited funding. During the first quarter of 2022, 2.6 million people were reached with humanitarian assistance (41 per cent of the 2022 HRP target).
• Inflation in commodity prices, including food, fuel, shelter materials and NFIs, has become a major concern to partners in addressing the needs of the most vulnerable people.
• The Nutrition Cluster is facing possible pipeline breaks for both preventative and therapeutic nutrition supplies due to under-funding and taxation issues. Resolution of taxation issues for humanitarian supplies is an urgent priority.
• Funding for agriculture support to vulnerable farmers is a priority for food security partners with fears that this lack of investment in livelihoods assistance could lead to food unavailability and unaffordability in rural areas.
• Funding has been secured for 270 out of the 550 IDP camp longhouses that need immediate reconstruction in Rakhine. However, there remains a $2.4 million funding gap to repair the remaining 281 longhouses as the monsoon season arrives.
• The funding situation for 2022 is now dire with the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) only 10 per cent funded, 5 months into the year, leaving a gap of US$740m (FTS). All clusters are seriously underfunded, threatening their ability to respond to the growing needs and gaps in response.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
During the reporting period, various parts of Myanmar have witnessed an escalation in fighting, further entrenching the already fragile humanitarian situation. The impact on civilians is worsening daily with frequent indiscriminate attacks and incidents involving explosive hazards, including landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERWs). According to UN figures, the number of IDPs people since the 2021 military takeover s now exceeds 694,300, bringing the overall number of displaced people across the country to more than one million. 2 Thousands of IDPs who have already fled their homes are being forced to move for a second or third time. An estimated 40,200 people have crossed the borders into neighbouring countries since the takeover.3 More than 12,700 civilian properties, including houses, churches, monasteries, and schools are estimated to have been destroyed during hostilities, although figures are difficult to verify.4 This will make IDP returns more difficult even if the situation improves. Consequently, complex needs are surfacing, requiring immediate humanitarian responses to save lives and protect those affected, supporting them to live in dignified conditions.
In addition to this constant risk and fear they are enduring daily, thousands of people across the country are living in distress due to the increasing price of essential commodities, including food and fuel, partly due to the conflict in Ukraine which has impacted global supplies. The price of diesel soared by 20 per cent from February to March 2022, and by another seven per cent from March to April 2022.5 On average, as of mid-April 2022, fuel prices are nearly two and a half times higher than February 2021. 6 This inflation has affected people’s purchasing power and is starting to impact on the work of several clusters, particularly food security and shelter, who depend on commodities to implement their humanitarian programming. Some clusters are facing issues with their suppliers who are no longer honoring contracts because of the price increases.
On top of the continued fighting, strong storms and heavy rain have already hit coastal areas of the country, mainly lowlying areas in Rakhine, Kayin, Kachin and Shan states, since April this year, causing varying degrees of damage to civilian structures, including houses and shelters. This has further compounded pre-existing vulnerabilities of the affected people, particularly IDPs in protracted displacement sites. Humanitarian actors, including local partners, have immediately reached affected families, where possible repairing the damage and providing tarpaulins and emergency NFIs, but the needs far exceed existing resources, capacities and access. Preparedness efforts by both humanitarian actors and the de facto authorities have been underway since the first quarter of 2022 (see details in article below). More funding is critically needed to ensure efficient responses in the event of a wide-scale natural disaster.
Across the country, humanitarian actors, including the UN, INGOs, and local partners, continue responding to both preexisting and emerging needs wherever possible, providing critical life-saving assistance in spite of the constrained operational environment and limited funding. As of the end of the first quarter of 2022, 2.6 million people had been reached with humanitarian assistance. This represents 41 per cent of the people targeted (6.2 million) in the 2022 HRP7 demonstrating the humanitarian community’s capacity to scale-up logistically when access and funding are available.
The funding situation for 2022 is now dire with the Humanitarian Response Plan only 10 per cent funded, 5 months into the year, leaving a gap of US$740m (FTS). The consequences will be grave if this level of underfunding continues in the remainder of 2022. Humanitarian partners will be forced to cut back on their support at a time when this assistance is needed the most, particularly as the monsoon season is just getting underway..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2022-05-31
Date of entry/update:
2022-05-31
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Human Rights and international relations, Public Health
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"This regular update, covering humanitarian developments up to 12 April, is produced by OCHA Myanmar in collaboration with the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group and UN agencies. The next humanitarian update will be issued in May 2022.
HIGHLIGHTS & KEY MESSAGES
• Across Myanmar, as of 11 April, 912,700 men, women and children remain displaced. This includes 566,100 people displaced by the conflict and insecurity since the military takeover in February last year. For the first time, displacement in the northwest has exceeded 300,000 people.
• Humanitarians continue providing critical life-saving assistance to displaced people and host communities wherever they can, including through local partners in the face of serious access constraints.
• Increasing challenges are being reported by clusters around roadblocks and checkpoints, transportation of supplies and incomplete coverage by local partners in several conflict areas.
• Despite access challenges and funding shortfalls, food security partners have reached 1.4 million people with life-saving assistance – a quarter of the Cluster’s target for 2022.
• The Nutrition Cluster is facing pipeline breaks for both preventative and therapeutic nutrition supplies as early as June.
• Amid escalating dangers from landmines and explosive ordnance in conflict areas, clusters have agreed to scale-up mainstreaming of risk education across all sectors.
• There remains high risk of transmission of acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) in protracted IDP camps in Rakhine amid significant WASH gaps, as well as reliance on water trucking, and potentially boating, at the peak of the dry season in some areas.
• Shelter repair gaps in Rakhine’s IDP camps are a significant concern heading into the monsoon season with more than 550 longhouses, sheltering more than 28,000 IDPs, considered structurally unsound and in urgent need of reconstruction.
• Preparedness plans are being updated ahead of the rainy season to ensure a timely and efficient response in the event of an emergency in high-risk areas.
• Funding for the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), which requests US$826 million to reach 6.2 million people in need of life-saving support, is critical. Only 5 per cent ($37.2 million) of required funds have been received at the end of the first quarter of 2022 (FTS). All clusters are underfunded, which impedes their ability to respond to the growing needs and gaps in response.
KEY FIGURES
912K People internally displaced across Myanmar
566K People currently displaced by clashes and insecurity since February 2021
346K People internally displaced mainly in Rakhine, Kachin, Chin, and Shan due to conflict prior to February 2021
8K Civilian properties estimated burnt or destroyed since February 2021.
Displacement figures fluctuate during any given month. These figures represent the number of people currently displaced.
Cumulative numbers for returns and displacement are not always available.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
Ongoing fighting in the country’s east and northwest has exacerbated the humanitarian and displacement situation.
The use of heavy weapons, including airstrikes and artillery fire, as well as landmines and the presence of explosive remnants of war (ERW) continues to claim lives and pose risks to the safety and security of the civilian population, especially Internally Displaced People (IDPs). Since the military takeover, at least 1,600 people, including over 100 children, have been killed, and thousands injured or maimed according to Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).2 During the first two months of 2022, UNICEF recorded 53 casualties from landmines and ERW alone. (See page 5 of this update for more details)
Hundreds of thousands of men, women, boys and girls have fled their homes for safety since the February military takeover, many of them forced to move multiple times exposing people to grave protection risks. As of 11 April 2022, the number of new IDPs since the military takeover in 2021 stands at 566,100, according to UN figures, bringing the total number of IDPs across the country to 912,700. In addition, it is estimated that 36,100 people from Myanmar are currently displaced in neighbouring countries. This includes 34,500 in India and 1,600 in Thailand.
At least 8,262 houses and other civilian properties, including churches monasteries, schools, and markets have reportedly been either burnt down or destroyed, mainly in Sagaing and Magway regions and Chin and Kayah states. (See page 3 of this update for more details)
The stressful financial situation already facing many vulnerable families after COVID-19 and the recent conflict has been placed under further strain by fresh price rises, especially for fuel since the start of the conflict in Ukraine which has impacted on global supply. According to WFP price monitoring, the price of fuel has increased by 18 per cent from February to March 2022 and is more than double the price (up 133 per cent) compared to February 2021.3The next round of monthly data is expected to show even steeper hikes. This has serious implications for people’s ability to purchase food and other essentials and if it becomes protracted, will also have an impact on the cost of humanitarian operations in 2022. In the HRP 2022, clusters anticipated continued inflation (ranging from 15-35 per cent depending on the cluster) but the ICCG will conduct a fresh stocktake of these impacts in the coming weeks.
Against this backdrop of conflict, the monsoon season is now approaching, placing another burden on the lives of vulnerable and displaced people in high-risk areas and adding new urgency to addressing shelter and NFI funding gaps. While the first storm of the season reached the Rakhine coast with limited impact at the end of March, the weather system was a timely opportunity to refresh preparedness planning. In the lead up to the storm, the de facto Rakhine State authorities evacuated some 300 people to a primary school in Yone Ka Htoe village in Gwa township and at least 90 vulnerable IDPs, including elderly people and persons with disabilities, were relocated to cyclone shelters in Sittwe. The de facto authorities immediately activated the respective township-level Disaster Management Committees (DMCs), instructed Village Tract leaders to prepare cyclone shelters around camp areas to accommodate Rohingya IDPs in Sittwe and put in place a plan to relocate IDPs in Pauktaw township to high ground, if needed. Each district office of the Department of Disaster Management stored non-food items to cover 1,000 families as part of the initial response. Operational humanitarian partners in Rakhine immediately undertook preparedness activities at the sub-national level, disseminating disaster preparedness messages around cyclone, flood and landslide risks in Rohingya languages in camps in Sittwe and in Pauktaw townships. The Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG) also convened an emergency meeting in Yangon to take stock of preparedness actions before the storm hit. Humanitarian partners have been recently updating their national emergency response preparedness plans for 2022 in preparation for the monsoon season and in the event of an emergency, will coordinate with the relevant de facto authorities to ensure an immediate and efficient response.
Overall, humanitarian actors, in close coordination with local partners, continue providing critical life-saving assistance to the most affected people but face ongoing challenges in addressing urgent needs due to access constraints and funding shortfalls. To meet their obligations to people in need, humanitarian actors, including the UN, international and national NGOs, need quicker, simpler and more predictable access processes. Visa, banking, registration, and MOU blockages remain major obstacles to effective response and must urgently be resolved. It is critical that new banking rules introduced by the Central Bank on foreign currency transactions do not hamper the ability of humanitarian organizations from accessing funding for life-saving work. Significant funding gaps persist, a quarter of the way into 2022. To date, only 5 per cent ($37.1 million) of the $826 million requested in the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan, has been received (FTS). Continued underfunding of this magnitude will have life-threatening consequences for millions of people in 2022. Donors are urged to give generously, in solidarity with the people of Myanmar to save lives and protect hard-fought development gains while there is still a window to do so. Donors and funding recipients are also reminded of the importance of up-to-date and complete reporting of funding flows to the Financial Tracking Service to ensure that a clear picture of gaps is available to support decision-making..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2022-04-19
Date of entry/update:
2022-04-19
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Public Health, Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Human Rights and international relations
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"SITUATION OVERVIEW
In 2021, the people of Myanmar faced an unprecedented political, socioeconomic, human rights and humanitarian crisis with needs escalating dramatically since the military takeover on 1 February and a severe COVID-19 third wave.
The expansion of armed conflict into new areas and the formation of new armed elements drove increased displacement, as well as exacerbating existing or generating new protection and assistance needs. The number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) within Myanmar rose substantially in 2021. According to the UN, of the 690,000 IDPs in Myanmar as of 27 December 2021, an estimated 52 per cent were women and 34 per cent were children. Of these, 320,000 were displaced by armed conflict and unrest since 1 February 2021. The majority of the new displacement occurred in Myanmar's northwest and southeast, as well as in Kachin and Shan states. IDPs have been forced to live in terrible conditions – some in camps, some in host communities and others in the jungle, without adequate food, shelter, sanitation, and medical care. In 2021, local organizations and partners provided basic assistance to previously and newly displaced people and host communities, where possible. However, IDPs and host communities continued to face shortages of food and livelihoods support, clothes, relief items and COVID-19 preventative supplies, largely due to the fighting, as well as restrictions on access, movement and transport. The new IDPS are in addition to the hundreds of thousands of people already living in protracted displacement in Kachin, Kayin, Rakhine and Shan states prior to February 2021.
The military takeover and the large-scale Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) that followed heavily impacted the economy and the already fragile public service sector in 2021, further restricting people’s access to essential basic social services such as education and health. The crisis caused severe interruptions to basic health services, risking long-term consequences for the health and well-being of Myanmar’s population. The health sector has been under enormous strain due to both the CDM and COVID-19. The CDM resulted in severe reductions in the available public health workforce with many health staff walking out of public facilities in protest, at a time when health services were needed most due to the pandemic. The impact of staffing interruptions was compounded by repeated attacks on healthcare and the occupation of health facilities by parties to the conflict, further reducing the options available to affected people and resulting in unmet needs. Significant portions of the community were also unwilling to seek care through public services where they were provided by the de facto authorities. While NGOs, Ethnic Health Organizations (EAOs) and private health services tried to cover the gap, they were not able to fully compensate for the breakdown of public services. Access to education was also heavily disrupted. Due to the combined effects of COVID-19 and the military takeover, nearly all of Myanmar’s 12 million school aged children missed out on almost two years of education in 2020 and 2021.
These inter-related risks also exacerbated pre-existing needs among already vulnerable women, girls, men and boys, including stateless Rohingya people and people living in protracted displacement, predominantly in the country’s northeast and southwest. The crisis deepened the needs of these population groups because of reduced livelihoods opportunities, aggravated by the increase in prices of basic goods. At the same time, access constraints due to COVID and the current political crisis undermined the quality and predictability of humanitarian assistance delivered to extremely aid-dependent communities. This was especially true of assistance to stateless Rohingya people in Rakhine, who are among the country’s most vulnerable people. As with new conflict areas, access to people with pre-existing needs in rural locations was particularly affected, leaving considerable gaps and unmet needs.
According to UNDP, the 2021 economic and political turmoil has driven almost half of the population (25 million people) into poverty in 2022, wiping out the impressive gains made since 2005. Increasing numbers of vulnerable women, girls, men and boys exhausted their coping capacity and slipped into humanitarian need for the first time. Price hikes, COVID-19 movement restrictions and ongoing insecurity forced the most marginalized and vulnerable people to resort to emergency coping strategies in order to buy food and other essential supplies, often negatively impacting their safety, well-being and dignity. The sale of productive assets was especially worrying as this is very difficult to reverse. In some states and regions, prices for crucial household commodities rose significantly, making some food items increasingly unaffordable. Farming incomes were affected by lower wholesale prices for some crops, higher input prices, lower farm gate prices and limited access to credit, affecting agricultural livelihoods and food supplies. COVID-19 related border closures reduced agricultural export earnings and made essential farming inputs less available and more expensive.
Monsoon floods in July and August 2021 affected more than 120,000 people across various parts of the country, resulting in crop losses and further contributing to food insecurity.
The compounding crises of 2021 profoundly and disproportionally impacted women and girls, as well as people with disability in Myanmar. The impacts of COVID-19 restrictions and the worsening security situation resulted in a continued heavy burden of care for women looking after sick family members and children who were unable to return to school. This impacted women's availability to engage in paid work and further strained households financially. Women-headed households and women previously employed in sectors such as the garment industry were particularly affected. Women health workers involved in the CDM and those previously employed at health facilities that were targeted, occupied or shut down also faced negative financial impacts. People with disabilities faced additional safety and security risks. They also regularly faced challenges in accessing basic services as they were unable to reach service points due to their impairment and stressed communities were unable to provide the same level of support..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2022-03-24
Date of entry/update:
2022-03-24
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Human Rights and international relations, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health
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"This regular update, covering humanitarian developments from 1 February to 15 March, is produced by OCHA Myanmar in collaboration with the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group and UNHCR. The next humanitarian update will be issued in April 2022.
HIGHLIGHTS & KEY MESSAGES
Civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict, which has further escalated in northwest and southeast Myanmar.
As of 14 March 2022, there were an estimated 889,900 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) across Myanmar including 519,500 people newly displaced since the military takeover and 370,400 IDPs in protracted displacement from previous crises. Overall displacement figures fluctuated during the month in light of recent small-scale and often shortlived returns.
Humanitarian actors continue providing critical lifesaving assistance to displaced people and host communities wherever they can, including through local partners amid serious access challenges.
Increasing challenges are being reported by clusters around transportation of supplies into conflict areas.
An inter-agency mission in Kachin and northern Shan has identified significant response gaps and escalating needs due to protracted displacement from continuing armed confrontations between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) and among different EAOs.
Preparedness efforts and COVID-19 preventative supplies provided by humanitarian partners have contributed to management of the fourth wave in February. After a surge in February, new cases have slowed in early March.
Additional funding for the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) which requests US$826 million to reach 6.2 million people in need of life-saving support is critical. Almost a quarter of the way into the year, a number of clusters are reporting major resource gaps with no funding yet received by some sectors in 2022.
KEY FIGURES
889.9K
Internally displaced persons across Myanmar
519.5K
People currently displaced across Myanmar by clashes and insecurity since February 2021
370K
People remain internally displaced in Rakhine, Kachin, Chin and Shan due to conflict before February 2021
5.6K
Estimated civilian properties, including houses, churches, monasteries and schools burnt or destroyed since February 2021.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
The security and humanitarian situations remained tense across Myanmar during the reporting period. Armed clashes between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs), and People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) have continued unabated in multiple states and regions, with heavy weapons, including airstrikes and artillery fire in various locations, resulting in casualties among the civilian population, destruction of properties and further displacement.
Civilians have been injured and killed by shelling, gunfire, landmines, explosive remnants of war (ERW), and unexploded ordnance (UXO). Since the military takeover, at least 1,600 people, including over 100 children, have been killed, and thousands injured or maimed according to OHCHR. Landmines and other ERW and UXO are an increasing concern as growing numbers of displaced people move through conflict areas. In 2021, 88 civilians, including 19 women and 19 children, were killed and another 196 people, including 33 women and 55 children, were injured from landmines and ERW, according to UNICEF. Shan State recorded the highest (38 per cent) of the total casualties, followed by Rakhine (17 per cent) and Kachin (18 per cent) states. Children represented 27 per cent of casualties from landmine and ERW incidents countrywide. In the past year, many families have been forced to flee their homes and villages, often more than once, for safety with a surge in displacement in January, February and early March 2022.
Across Myanmar, as of 14 March 2022, 889,900 people remain displaced. This includes 519,500 people displaced by conflict and insecurity since 1 February. The majority of IDPs are women and girls. The fighting has also caused unprecedented destruction of civilian properties, including houses, across the country. As of 7 March 2022, more than 5,640 houses, churches, monasteries, schools, and markets had been either burnt down or destroyed across Myanmar, mainly in Chin and Kayah states and Sagaing and Magway regions.
Prices for basic commodities have significantly increased compared to December 2021, building off an already highlevel post-takeover, largely due to increased fuel costs, deteriorating exchange rates, transport and import restrictions, and supply disruptions caused by insecurity, adding an additional burden on families. Between February 2021 and February 2022, the prices of basic food items increased by nearly 30 per cent across Myanmar. Nearly half the population (46 per cent) is estimated to be living in poverty in 2022 according to UNDP. COVID-19 continues to add additional suffering and complexity with a fourth wave still impacting the country, although case numbers have started to subside in early March. Women are carrying an unequal economic burden from both the pandemic and the political situation as households struggle to make ends meet. Reports from the World Bank and International Labour Organization (ILO) show that the socio-economic impact of the crisis has disproportionately affected women and girls. According to the ILO, 580,000 women were estimated to have lost their employment within the first six months of 2021.
To address this unprecedented situation, humanitarian actors in Myanmar have prepared a Humanitarian Response Plan for 2022, requesting US$826 million to reach 6.2 million people in need of life-saving humanitarian support. Fifty two (52) per cent of the people targeted are women. The Plan remains desperately underfunded (see cluster section for sectoral breakdowns of funding gaps).
Annually, 8 March marks International Women’s Day and is a global opportunity to celebrate women achievements, raise awareness on women’s equality, and lobby for accelerated gender parity. This year’s theme was “gender equal today for a sustainable tomorrow”. The United Nations in Myanmar issued a statement on this day reiterating “its commitment to put women and girls at the centre of its development and humanitarian response to the ongoing crises in the country, to ensure that their needs are met, and to support their role and agency in shaping a future path for their country.” To achieve this, humanitarian actors need the urgent financial support of donor member states to save the lives and future of millions of women and girls in Myanmar..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2022-03-19
Date of entry/update:
2022-03-19
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), The discussion on humanitarian assistance to Burma, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Human Rights and international relations
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"This regular update, covering humanitarian developments from 1 and 31 January, is produced by OCHA Myanmar in collaboration with the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group and UNHCR. The next humanitarian update will be issued in March 2022.
HIGHLIGHTS
The security and humanitarian situations across Myanmar have further deteriorated during January with intensified conflict in multiple states and regions, particularly in northwest and southeast Myanmar, resulting in additional loss of life, destruction of civilian property and increasing internal and cross- border displacement.
As of 31 January, an estimated 441,500 people remained internally displaced across Myanmar due to clashes and insecurity since 1 February 2021. This is in addition to the 370,400 people living in protracted displacement before February 2021.
Humanitarian actors have continued providing critical life-saving assistance to displaced people and host communities wherever they can, including through local partners amid serious access challenges.
Preparedness efforts to contain the fourth wave of COVID-19 are ongoing. These include surveillance, case management, infection prevention and control, and Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE).
An outbreak of acute watery diarrhea (AWD) has been reported in displacement sites hosting those affected by Arakan Army (AA)-Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) conflict and in Rohingya IDP camps in three townships in Rakhine State. Humanitarian partners have collectively intervened to contain the outbreak and continue monitoring the situation.
In January, UNOCHA released the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), which requests US$826 million to reach 6.2 million people in need of life-saving humanitarian support.
KEY FIGURES *
441K
People currently displaced across Myanmar by clashes and insecurity since February 2021
370K
People remain internally displaced in Rakhine, Kachin, Chin and Shan due to conflict before February 2021
232K
People remain internally displaced in southeast Myanmar due to conflict since February 2021
3.5K
Civilian properties, including houses, churches, monasteries and schools burnt down or destroyed since February 2021.
**Displacement figures fluctuate during any given month. These figures represent the number of people currently displaced. Cumulative numbers for returns and displacement are not always available.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
A year on from the 1 February 2021 military takeover, the security, humanitarian and human rights situation in Myanmar continues to be dominated by intensified hostilities between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and various ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), as well as People’s Defence Forces (PDFs) across multiple states and regions, with no respite on the horizon. Heightened conflict during January saw loss of civilian lives, destruction of homes and livelihoods, and a surge in internal and cross-border displacement.
Protection of civilians and threats to basic rights remain a grave concern for the humanitarian community among escalating tensions. According to OHCHR, the violence that has ensued and spread across the country since February 2021 has claimed the lives of at least 1,5001 people, including men, women, boys and girls, and many have been injured or maimed. Of the total, more than 114 were children under 18 years old, including at least 18 children in January alone. Furthermore, between 1 January and 31 December 2021, UNICEF reports that 169 landmine and explosive remnant of war (ERW) incidents in which 88 civilians, including 19 women and 19 children, were killed and another 196 people, including 33 women and 55 children, were injured.
A year of unprecedented violence has driven desperate need in new areas and has further compounded the humanitarian situation for those already displaced and suffering. According to UNHCR,4 441,500 people remain internally displaced across the country due to violence and insecurity since February 2021. This recent displacement has already exceeded the number of displaced people in Rakhine, Chin, Shan and Kachin states from conflicts prior to the military takeover (370,400 IDPs). As of 31 January 2022, more than 3,500 houses, churches, monasteries, schools, and markets had been either burnt down or destroyed, mainly in Chin and Kayah states and Sagaing and Magway regions. The humanitarian needs of displaced people as well as host communities are escalating and include food, shelter and relief items, as well as access to life-saving services, including health and education. As a result of conflict and the political crisis, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, poverty has surged. UNDP projects that nearly half of Myanmar’s 54 million people – some 25 million people – are in poverty heading into 2022. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that in 2021, only 18.9 million women and men were employed, which is 1.6 million (8 per cent) fewer than in 2020.6 Food insecurity is rising because of increasing poverty. More than 13 million people are now in moderate or severe food insecurity across the country with concerning implications for malnutrition in 2022.
In January, on behalf of the humanitarian community in Myanmar, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), published the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), which requests US$826 million for UN agencies, international and local NGOs to reach 6.2 million people in need of life-saving humanitarian support.
Humanitarians need to be able to physically get help to people in need. Access is currently extremely limited and bureaucratic, delaying the delivery of assistance and prolonging people’s suffering. As recently noted by the Spokesperson of the UN Secretary-General, the “multiple vulnerabilities of all people across Myanmar and its regional implications require an urgent response. Access to people in need is critically important for the United Nations and partners to continue to deliver on the ground.” He also added that “[a]rmed forces and all stakeholders must respect human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
Quicker, simplified and predictable access processes and assurances of aid worker safety are urgently needed for a humanitarian response of this size, allowing local, national and international organizations to support people in need. Visa, banking, registration and MOU blockages remain major obstacles to effective response and must urgently be resolved.
Donors are urged to give generously, in solidarity with the people of Myanmar to save lives and protect hard-fought development gains while there is still a window to do so. Identifying and engaging additional local partners will also be critical to delivering more assistance to more people in hard-to-reach and under-served locations..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2022-02-15
Date of entry/update:
2022-02-16
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Burma: Internal displacement/forced migration of several ethnic groups.
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"This regular update, covering humanitarian developments from 1 and 26 December, is produced by OCHA Myanmar in collaboration with the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group and UNHCR. The January Humanitarian update will be issued in early February 2022.
HIGHLIGHTS
• The security and humanitarian situation across Myanmar remains tense, with continued armed clashes in multiple states and regions, resulting in additional loss of life, destruction of civilian property and increasing internal and cross-border displacement.
• On 24 December, at least 35 civilians, including four children and two humanitarian actors, were killed and burnt in Kayah State, south-eastern Myanmar.
• As of 27 December, an estimated 320,900 people remained internally displaced across Myanmar due to clashes and insecurity since 1 February 2021. This is in addition to the 340,000 people living in protracted displacement before February 2021.
• A small number of partners were able to reach IDPs and other affected people in acute conflict areas during December, but greater access remains critical for the urgent delivery of humanitarian assistance to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people.
• At the end of the year, the Humanitarian Response plan was 58 per cent funded receiving US$225.3 million of the $385.7 million requested for 2021. In 2022, the humanitarian community requires increased funding to bring in additional resources to scale up its efforts to address the unmet and escalating needs.
• On 31 December, the 2022 Humanitarian Needs Overview was published identifying 14.4 million people in need. The 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan will be published by the end of January outlining efforts to reach 6.2 million people with assistance and requiring $826 million.
KEY FIGURES
320K people currently displaced across Myanmar by clashes and insecurity since February 2021
175K people currently displaced in southeast Myanmar by insecurity and clashes since February 2021
132K people currently displaced in Chin State, Magway and Sagaing regions by clashes and insecurity since May 2021
17K people currently displaced in Shan since January 2021 and in Kachin since March 2021 due to clashes and insecurity
SITUATION OVERVIEW
The security and humanitarian situation in Myanmar remains volatile, with civilians bearing the brunt of ongoing armed clashes between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) and/or various PDFs, as well as between EAOs, in multiple states and regions. In Kayin and Kayah states, as well as Magway and Sagaing regions, clashes have intensified, resulting in increasing civilian casualties, destruction of civilian properties and internal and cross-border displacement.
Since the February military takeover, more than 2,200 houses and other civilian properties have reportedly either been burnt down or destroyed, mainly in Chin (800), Kayah (654), Sagaing (529), and Magway (223). As of 27 December 2021, an estimated 320,900 people were internally displaced due to clashes and insecurity since 1 February, according to UNHCR figures. The southeast of the country (Kayin, Kayah and southern Shan) recorded the highest new internal displacement with 175,700 IDPs (55 per cent), followed by the northwest part (Sagaing, Magway and Chin) with 132,200 IDPs (41 per cent), Shan with 14,400 IDPs (four per cent) and Kachin with 3,200 IDPs (one per cent). In addition, 340,000 people remain displaced due to earlier conflicts before 2021. This includes 106,800 people in protracted displacement camps (since 2011) in Kachin and northern Shan; 144,000, mostly Rohingya people, in camps in Rakhine State (since 2012); and 79,900 people displaced in Rakhine State and southern Chin due to conflict between the Arakan Army (AA) and the MAF from early 2019 and late 2020. More than 19,000 people have crossed the borders into neighbouring countries since February 2021.
With only 58 per cent of the requested funding (US$225.3 million out of $385.7 million) received in 2021, the UN and its humanitarian partners succeeded in providing record levels of life-saving assistance and protection services. As of early December, the humanitarian response reached more than 2.4 million out of the three million people in need identified in the original 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan and subsequent Myanmar Interim Emergency Response Plan (June-December). Final full-year figures for 2021 will be available in February 2022. Despite this significant scaleup, humanitarian needs continue to grow. In 2022, humanitarians estimate 14.4 million people are in humanitarian need and have prioritized 6.2 million for urgent assistance. To meet these needs $826 million in funding and expanded access will be required..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2022-01-17
Date of entry/update:
2022-01-18
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Human Rights and international relations, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health
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674.76 KB
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"Highlights
• Fighting between the MAF and Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) and local People’s Defence Forces (PDFs) has intensified in Kayah and Kayin states since December 2021.
• In Kayah State, increased fighting has been seen in Loikaw, Demoso Hpruso, and Shadaw townships. In Kayin, the escalation initially started in Lay Kay Kaw in Myawaddy Township and has since spread to Kawkareik, Hpapun and Hpa-An townships.
• More than half the population of Loikaw township has been internally displaced. People who have fled their homes have sought refuge in community centers, host communities or the jungle.
• Several humanitarian organisations have been forced to temporarily suspend operations in parts of the southeast due to the security situation.
• As of 3 January, 162,000 people from Kayah and Kayin states, including women and children, remain displaced after fleeing their homes since May 2021.
• To date, 654 houses and other civilian properties, including churches, monasteries, and schools, have reportedly been burnt down or destroyed in Kayah State since May 2021.
Situation Overview
The humanitarian and security situation in southeast Myanmar has deteriorated during the past few weeks, especially in Kayah and Kayin states, following heavy ting between the MAF and EAOs as well as local PDFs including the use of airstrikes by fighter jets and attacks from helicopters. A heavy military presence and increased military checkpoints have been reported and search and arrest operations have been conducted.
Since early January 2022, fighting has been escalating in Loikaw, Demoso, and Shadaw townships in Kayah State, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes and seek refuge in community centers, host communities or the jungle. More than half the population of Loikaw township has reportedly since been displaced. Of those who have fled, 5,000 people reportedly sought refuge in Taunggyi township in southern Shan State. Secondary displacement was also reported in Demoso township and more than 1,000 people from this group reportedly crossed the border into Mae Hong Son,Thailand.
In December 2021, Kayah State recorded one of the highest single-day casualty figures following in an incident that occurred in Hpruso township, where at least 35 civilians, including four children and two humanitarian workers, were burnt and killed.
The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, expressed his horror over the incident in a statement where he called on “the Myanmar Armed Forces and all armed groups in Myanmar to take all measures to protect civilians from harm.” Ongoing armed clashes have also resulted in destruction of civilian properties across Kayah State. Since May 2021, 654 houses and other civilian properties, including churches, monasteries, and schools, have reportedly been burnt down or destroyed.
In Kayin State, fighting has been escalating since mid-December 2021, following the arrest of pro-democracy activists, including former member of parliament. The fighting started in Lay Kay Kaw in Myawaddy Township and spread to Kawkareik, Hpapun and Hpa-An townships. Heavy shelling and airstrikes have been reported, and roadblocks were erected in these areas. More than 22,000 people were reportedly displaced from Lay Kay Kaw, with more than 8,600 crossing the border into Tak, Thailand. Of those, several thousand people have returned and are currently residing in informal displacement sites within Myanmar while just about 2,800 people remain in Thailand.
Overall, as of 10 January 2021, 181,400 people remain internally displaced in southeast Myanmar (89,300 in Kayah, 74,400 in Kayin, 7,200 in Mon, and 1,500 in Tanintharyi). IDPs are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Local partners have been providing critical assistance to the extent possible. Several humanitarian partners have suspended their operations since last December due to the security situation. Others, who are still operating are still facing access constraints which are stopping them reaching IDPs and other affected people in these contested areas due security and military checkpoints and lack of travel authorizations..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2022-01-13
Date of entry/update:
2022-01-14
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Human Rights and international relations
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"The humanitarian situation in Myanmar is deteriorating. Across the country, there are now more than 3 million people in need of life-saving humanitarian assistance because of growing conflict and insecurity, COVID-19 and a failing economy. Without an end to violence and a peaceful resolution of Myanmar’s crisis, this number will only rise.
Since the 1 February armed forces takeover, hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes due to violence across the country, and 223,000 people remain internally displaced. This includes 165,000 in the south-east of the country and is on top of a significant population of people who were already displaced in Rakhine, Chin, Shan and Kachin states prior to the takeover.
Long-term displacement remains unresolved, with 144,000 Rohingya people still confined to camps and camp-like settings in Rakhine, many since their displacement in 2012, and more than 105,000 people displaced in Kachin and Shan, many for years. I am also increasingly concerned about reports of rising levels of food insecurity in and around urban areas, including in Yangon and Mandalay.
In recent weeks, the situation in the north-west of the country has become extremely concerning, with an escalation in hostilities between the Myanmar Armed Forces and the Chinland Defence Force in Chin state, and with the People’s Defence Forces in Magway and Sagaing regions. More than 37,000 people, including women and children, have been newly displaced, and more than 160 homes have been burned, including churches and the offices of a humanitarian organization. Attacks directed against civilians and civilian infrastructure, including humanitarian workers and facilities, are clearly prohibited under international humanitarian law and must stop immediately.
Humanitarian workers are providing assistance to those in need across Myanmar. So far this year they have reached more than 1.67 million people with food, cash and nutrition assistance. They stand ready to do more but remain constrained by lack of humanitarian access and funds. Access to many people in desperate need across the country remains extremely limited due to bureaucratic impediments put in place by the armed forces. I call on the Myanmar armed forces — and all parties — to facilitate safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access.
I also call on the international community to fund the response. Less than half of the US$385 million required under the Humanitarian Response Plan and Interim Emergency Response Plan launched after the armed forces’ takeover has been received. The people of Myanmar need our help to ensure that their basic rights are upheld and they can live with dignity.
The world is watching. I urge all parties to fully respect their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law to protect civilians, ensure civilians can freely move towards safety when needed, and allow humanitarian assistance to be provided to those in need, including those being forced to flee the violence..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2021-11-08
Date of entry/update:
2021-11-09
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Humanitarian assistance - emergencies, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Human Rights and international relations
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165.07 KB
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"Highlights
• Fighting in the northwest between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and the Chinland Defence Force in Chin State and the local People’s Defence Forces (PDFs) in Magway and Sagaing regions has recently escalated.
• In Chin State, more than 160 houses, two churches and an NGO office in Thantlang Town were reportedly burnt down on 29 October.
• Around 37,000 people, including women and children, have been newly displaced by fighting which started in May in the northwest, in addition to around 7,600 people previously displaced by earlier conflict between the Arakan Army (AA) and the MAF in Paletwa, Chin State, since December 2019.
Situation Overview
The humanitarian, human rights and security situation in Chin State, as well as in neighbouring Magway and Sagaing regions, is deteriorating with intensified armed clashes reported between the MAF and local PDFs. Displacement has increased as well as rights violations and causalities. In Chin State, more than 160 houses, two churches and an NGO office in Thantlang Town were reportedly burnt down on 29 October, in addition to other townships facing similar destruction of property since August. Most residents had already fled in late September in anticipation of the conflict. However, UNICEF is concerned about the safety of children who are thought to remain in Thantlang Town and is calling for immediate efforts to ensure the safety of these children, and of all children impacted by the conflict.
In total, around 37,000 people, including women and children, have now been displaced in the northwest since the clashes started in May. This includes at least 18,300 people who have been displaced across several townships in Chin State. Of those people, more than 10,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are sheltering in Thantlang Township in Chin State next to the Indian border. The newly displaced people in Chin State are in addition to some 7,600 people who remain displaced since December 2019 in Paletwa in southern Chin due to the conflict between the AA and the MAF. About 15,000 people have reportedly crossed the border into India since the military takeover on 1 February.
The total number of displaced people in Sagaing and Magway regions remains mostly unchanged for the last two weeks as some have returned to their areas of origin, while others have been newly displaced. Around 7,000 people remain in the displacement sites in Kale, Kani, Khin-U and Mingin townships in Sagaing Region and around 12,300 remain in the displacement sites in Gangaw, Pauk and Saw townships in Magway Region..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2021-11-03
Date of entry/update:
2021-11-05
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Human Rights and international relations, Public Health, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
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882.65 KB
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Description:
"The humanitarian situation in Myanmar remains serious due to ongoing armed clashes and insecurity, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. Three million people need assistance and protection services. This includes 1 million people previously identified in the existing Humanitarian Response Plan and a further 2 million identified since 1 February.
More than 218,900 people have been internally displaced due to clashes and insecurity since 1 February 2021 in Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Mon and Shan states, and in Magway, Sagaing and Tanintharyi regions.
In addition, about 370,000 people remain displaced due to earlier conflicts before 2021. This includes 106,102 people in camps for protracted displacement established since 2011 in Kachin and northern Shan, 144,000 Rohingya people in camps in Rakhine established since 2012 and 86,700 people due to Arakan Army(AA)-Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) conflict in 2019..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2021-10-18
Date of entry/update:
2021-10-19
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Human Rights and international relations, Reports and maps covering anti-personnel landmines and Burma/Myanmar
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249.44 KB
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Description:
"This regular update, covering humanitarian developments from 24 August to 30 September, is produced by OCHA Myanmar in collaboration with the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group, UNHCR and WFP. The next update will be issued towards the end of October 2021.
HIGHLIGHTS
The humanitarian situation in several townships in Sagaing and Magway regions is deteriorating with an estimated 63,000 people temporarily displaced in Sagaing between 4 and 13 September and more than 12,000 currently displaced in Magway, according to local partners.
In Chin State, clashes between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and local People’s Defense Force (PDF) escalated, particularly around Thantlang. As of 13 September, close to 12,000 people remain displaced in several townships and neighbouring regions.
The security situation in south-eastern Myanmar continued to deteriorate throughout September, particularly in Kayah State and the bordering townships of southern Shan. An estimated 142,000 people remain displaced, mostly in Kayah State, due to clashes and insecurity since 1 February.
Despite access, security and other operational constraints, WFP and partners have started to overcome challenges in food and cash distributions in conflict-affected areas and elsewhere.
An estimated 34,000 people have fled across Shan State since the beginning of 2021; close to 13,380 remain displaced.
Across the country, access to vulnerable people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance and protection services remains significantly restricted due to escalating armed clashes, overall insecurity and COVID-related restrictions.
As of 27 September, less than half of the US$276.5 million requested under the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), and only 15 per cent of the US$109 million requested under the Interim Emergency Response Plan have been funded, according to the FTS.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
DIRE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION AND DISPLACEMENT IN SAGAING AND MAGWAY: The humanitarian situation in Sagaing and Magway regions of central Myanmar remains dire, with armed clashes reported between the MAF and local PDFs with security incidents recorded in several townships since early April. On 16 September, airstrikes were reported for the first time in Sagaing, targeting local PDFs in Chaung-U Township and resulting in civilian deaths. The ongoing hostilities have caused thousands of people to flee their homes and destruction of property. Houses have been burnt in both regions. It remains difficult to determine the full humanitarian impact, including the exact number of people cumulatively displaced, the number of civilian casualties and the damage to civilian property because humanitarian partners have not been granted access to the regions with travel authorizations pending.
In Sagaing Region, the conflict has affected about 18 townships. The most affected areas include Kani, Myaung, Tabayin, Shwebo and Yinmarbin. According to partners, an estimated 63,600 people were displaced from many villages in 11 townships in September. Some 45,000 of this group were temporarily displaced from 8 townships between 4 and 13 September and about 18,600 people in 3 townships were temporarily displaced between 7 and 10 September. In Magway Region, armed clashes and security incidents have reportedly affected several townships, mostly in Gangaw, Myaing, Pauk and Saw. More than 12,000 people fled to nearby safer villages and into the forest, according to local sources. About half of them are newly displaced from four villages in Gangaw and from one village in Saw township due to clashes in early September. Around 4,900 remain displaced in Saw and another 1,100 remain displaced in Pauk townships since mid-May and mid-June respectively, having fled from neighbouring Chin State due to MAF-PDF clashes.
Since 15-25 September, 10 townships in Sagaing and 4 townships in Magway have experienced blackouts of mobile internet and Wi-Fi services. In addition, three Sagaing townships – Kawlin, Pinlebu and Wuntho – have also been experiencing loss of mobile telecommunications since 25 September. There have been further reports of Mytel Telecom towers across Sagaing Region and other areas being destroyed. The internet blackout across those townships has deprived affected populations of access to timely information, access to mobile banking and remote health care, as well as communication channels for online learning being used while schools have been closed..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2021-10-01
Date of entry/update:
2021-10-01
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Human Rights and international relations, Education in Burma/Myanmar - general
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720.83 KB
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"ယခု အင်တာဗျူးဆောင်းပါအား လူ့အခွင့်အရေး လေ့လာမှုဌာန (the Institute for the Study of Human Right (ISHR)) မှ ဒေးဗစ်မက်သီဆင်နှင့် ပြုလုပ်ခဲ့သည့် အင်တာဗျူးမှ အချို့သောအချက်များအား ကောက်နှုတ်ဖော်ပြခြင်းဖြစ်ပါသည်။ ယခု အင်တာဗျူးတွင် ပါ၀င်သော အပိုင်းများအား မြန်မာနိုင်ငံ၏ လူ့အခွင့်အရေးနှင့် လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုအရေး အရေးကိစ္စများနှင့် စပ်လျဥ်း၍ သုတေသနပြုလေ့လာနေသော အလွတ်တမ်းသုတေသီ ဒေးဗစ်မက်သီဆင်နှင့် ပြုလုပ်ခဲ့သော အင်တာဗျူးမှ ကောက်နှုတ်ဖော်ပြထားပါသည်။ ထိုမူရင်းအင်တာဗျူး အပြည်အစုံအား Tea Circle စာမျက်နှာပေါ်တွင်ဖတ်ရှုလိုပါက ဖော်ပြပါ အပိုင်း၁ နှင့် အပိုင်း၂၏ လင့်ခ်များတွင် ၀င်ရောက်ဖတ်ရှုနိုင်ပါသည်။
[အယ်ဒီတာ့အမှာစာ၊ ယခုပို့စ်တွင် ဖော်ပြခြင်းခံရသော ကောက်နှုတ်ချက်များနှင့် အစီရင်ခံစာများသည် ISHR မှ မြန်မာ့အရေးနှင့် ပက်သတ်၍ ကျင်းပနေသော ဆွေးနွေးပွဲများမှ ကောက်နှုတ်ခြင်းဖြစ်ပြီး ယခုပို့စ်ပါ ကောက်နှုတ်ချက်များအား ဖော်ပြခြင်းသည်လည်း Tea Circle နှင့် Institute for the Study of Human Rights တို့၏ ပူးပေါင်းဆောင်ရွက်မှုဖြစ်ပါသည်။]
ခရစ္စတီးနား အီဘာဘတ်ချ်။ ။ အားလုံး မင်္ဂလာပါ။ မြန်မာ့ လူအခွင့်ရေးဆိုင်ရာ webinar အစီစဥ် နောက်တစ်ခုကနေ ကြိုဆိုပါတယ်။ ဒီနေ့ အစီစဥ်ကို တက်ရောက်တဲ့အတွက် ကျေးဇူးတင်ပါတယ်။ ဒီနေ့ ခေါင်းစဥ်ကတော့ မြန်မာနိုင်ငံ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ စဥ်းစားချက်များပဲ ဖြစ်ပါတယ်။ ဒီ ဆွေးနွေးမှု အစီစဥ်ကို ကိုလံဘီယာ တက္ကသိုလ် လူ့အခွင့်ရေးဌာနမှ စီစဥ်တင်ဆက်တာပါ။ ကျွန်မ အမည်ကတော့ ခရစ္စတီးနား အီဘာဘတ်ချ် ပါ။ ကျွန်မက ဒီဌာနမှာ ဒု ညွှန်ကြားရေးမှုးပါ။ မြန်မာပရောဂျက်မှာ ကျွန်မနဲ့အတူ ဦးဆောင် ဆောင်ရွက်နေသူ ဘန် ဖလန်းမင်း ကလည်း ဒီနေ့ ဆွေးနွေးမှု အစီစဥ်မှာ ကျွန်မနှင့်အတူ ဆွေးနွေး ပံ့ပိုးပေးသွားမှာ ဖြစ်ပါတယ်။
ဒီနေ့ အစီစဥ်အတွက် နိုင်ငံတကာလူ့အခွင့်ရေးဆိုင်ရာ အဖွဲ့ စည်းများစွာမှာ ဆောင်ရွက်ခဲ့သူ၊ မြန်မာနှင့် ပတ်သက်၍ အတွေ့ အကြုံသက်တမ်း နှစ်ပေါင်း ၂၀ ကျော်ရှိသူ မြန်မာ့အရေးလေ့လာသုံးသပ်သူ ဒေးဗစ် မက်သီဆင်ကို ဖိတ်ခေါ်ထားပါတယ်။ ဒေးဗစ်မက်သီဆင်က ကျွန်မတို့ရဲ့ လူ့အခွင့်ရေးဆိုင်ရာ ပညာရေး တက္ကသိုလ် မြန်မာပရောဂျက်မှာလည်း ဧည့်ဆရာ၊ သင်ကြားပြသပေးသူ ဆရာ အဖြစ် မျှဝေပေးခဲ့ဖူးပါတယ်။
ဒေးဗစ် မက်သီဆင်။ ။ ကျေးဇူးတင်ပါတယ် ခရစ္စတီနား နဲ့ ဘန် ရေ။ တက်ရောက်လာသူအားလုံးကိုလည်း ကျေးဇူးတင်ပါတယ်။ ကောင်းသောညနေခင်းပါလို့ ထိုင်းနိုင်ငံ ဘန်ကောက်မှ နှုတ်ခွန်းဆက်သလိုက်ပါတယ်။ အာဏာသိမ်းပြီးနောက်ပိုင်း မြန်မာနိုင်ငံအကြောင်း၊ လက်ရှိမြန်မာနိုင်ငံမှာ ကြုံတွေ့ နေရတဲ့ လူသားချင်း စာနာ ထောက်ထား မှုဆိုင်ရာ ၀ိရောဓိတွေအကြောင်း စတဲ့ အရမ်းအရေးကြီးတဲ့ ခေါင်းစဥ်တွေပေါ် မှတ်ချက် တချို့ ပေးတာနဲ့ ကျွန်တော် စတင်လိုက်ပါ့မယ်။
သိပ်မကြာသေးခင်က UNOCHA ရဲ့ မြန်မာနိုင်ငံ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှု လျှပ်တပြက် လေ့လာမှု အစီရင်ခံစာကို ကြည့်လိုက်မယ်ဆိုရင် လက်ရှိအခြေနေမှာ လူသားချင်းစာနာမှုအခြေနေတွေဟာ အလွန် အန္တရာယ်ရှိတဲ့ အခြေအနေ ဖြစ်နေတယ် ဆိုတာနဲ့ ဖေဖော်၀ါရီလ အာဏာသိမ်းမှု မတိုင်ခင်ကတည်းက လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှု ဆိုင်ရာ အခြေအနေတွေဟာ အလွန်မင်း စိတ်ပူစရာ ဖြစ်နေခဲ့တယ်ဆိုတာကို တွေ့ မြင်နိုင်ပါတယ်။ UNOCHA အချက်လက်တွေအရဆိုရင် တနိုင်ငံလုံးမှာ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှု ဆိုင်ရာ အကူညီတွေလိုအပ်နေတာ လူပေါင်း ၁ သန်း ရှိတယ်။ လိုအပ်နေတဲ့ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှု ဆိုင်ရာအကူညီတွေကို ဖြည့်ဆည်းဖို့ ဒေါ်လာသန်းပေါင်း ၂၇၆ သန်းလိုအပ်မယ်လို့ ကုလသမဂ္ဂကလည်း ခန့်မှန်းတွက်ချက်ထားတယ်။ အခု ဖြည့်ဆည်းပေးခဲ့တာ ဒေါ်လာ ၃၉ သန်းပဲ ရှိသေးတော့ လိုအပ်ချက်ရဲ့ ၁၄ ရာခိုင်နှုန်းပဲ အမှန်တကယ်ဖြည့်ဆည်းနိုင်ခဲ့တဲ့ သဘောပေါ့။
ကျွန်တော်က မြန်မာနိုင်ငံပွင့်လမ်းလာတဲ့ ၂၀၁၀ ခုနှစ် မတိုင်မီ နှစ်ပေါင်းများစွာကတည်းက လူ့အခွင့်ရေးနဲ့ လူသားချင်း စာနာထောက်ထားခြင်းဆိုင်ရာ ကိစ္စရပ်တွေမှာ ဆောင်ရွက်ခဲ့တာပါ။ အဲ့အချိန်တုန်းကတောင် လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှု ဆိုင်ရာ လိုအပ်ချက်တွေကို နိုင်ငံရေးသဖွယ် အလွန်ရှုမြင်ခဲ့တာပါ။ နိုင်ငံတကာရဲ့ တက်ကြွလှုပ်ရှားမှုရယ်၊ မြန်မာနိုင်ငံပေါ် ထားတဲ့ နိုင်ငံရေးဖိအားရယ်နဲ့ တကယ့်မြေပြင်ပေါ်က လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ ပကတိအခြေနေရယ် နှစ်ခုအကြားမှာ အချိတ်ဆက်မရှိဘဲ ကွာဟနေ တယ်လို့ ကျွန်တော် အမြဲနားလည်ထားတယ်။ ပြီးခဲ့တဲ့ ကာလတွေမှာ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ ဆွေးနွေးငြင်းခုံမှုတွေမှာ နိုင်ငံရေးရာ ဆွေးနွေးငြင်းခုံမှုတွေက ပိတ်မိနေတယ်။ ကျွန်တော်တို့ဟာ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ ကိစ္စရပ်တွေကို ပိုပိုပြီး နိုင်ငံရေးသဖွယ်ရှုမြင် ဆောင်ရွက်လာတဲ့ ပတ်၀န်းကျင်အပြောင်းလဲသစ် တခုထဲကို ရောက်လာနေပြီလို့ ကျွန်တော်ထင်ပါတယ်။
လွန်ခဲ့တဲ့ လေးလမှာ အာရုံလွှဲစေတဲ့ အကြောင်းအမျိုးမျိုးကြောင့် ဥပမာ ကာကွယ်ရမယ့်တာ၀န်၀တ္တရား (R2P) လိုအကြောင်းရာမျိုးကြောင့် ကျွန်တော်တို့တွေ ဘာမှမပြီးမြောက် ဖြစ်ခဲ့တယ်။ ပြန်ကြည့်မယ်ဆိုရင် အတွေးခေါ် အလွဲမှား တခုကိုမြင်ရတယ်။ အကောင်းကို ရည်ရွယ်တာတော့သေချာပါတယ်၊ ဒါပေမယ့် R2P ကိုပြောကြရာမှာ နိုင်ငံတကာ အသိုင်း၀ိုင်းက အကောင်ထည်ဖော်လိမ့်မယ် ဆိုတဲ့ မျှော်မှန်းချက်တခု အရမ်းပါနေတယ်။ လေယာဥ်မပျံသန်းရ ဇုံ၊ ခိုလှုံရာ ဘေးကင်းဇုံ၊ လက်နက်ရောင်း၀ယ်မှု ပိတ်ဆို့တားဆီးရေး စတဲ့ တခြားအကြောင်းရာတွေပြောတဲ့ အခါမှာလည်း နိုင်ငံတကာအသိုင်း၀ိုင်းက အကောင်ထည်ဖော် ဆောင်ရွက်ပေးလိမ့်မယ်ဆိုတဲ့ မျှော်မှန်းချက်တွေ အရမ်းပါနေတယ်။ ဒီလိုပြောရာမှာ အနောက်နိုင်ငံတွေက တဦးတယောက်ချင်းနဲ့ အစုဖွဲ့တွေကို သေချာစဥ်းစားစီစဥ်ပြီး ပိတ်ဆို့မှုကောင်း အချို့ကို ဆောင်ရွက်ခဲ့တယ်လို့ ကျွန်တော်ထင်ပါတယ်။ ဒါပေမယ့် နိုင်ငံတကာရဲ့ တက်ကြွလှုပ်ရှားမှုက မြေပြင်ပေါ်မှာ ဖြစ်ပေါ်နေတဲ့ အကျပ်တည်းတွေကို လိုက်လျောညီထွေစွာ မဆောင်ရွက်နိုင်ခဲ့ဘူးလို့ ကျွန်တော်ထင်ပါတယ်။
မြန်မာမှာ ကမ္ဘာ့ကပ်ရောဂါ မရိုက်ခတ်ခင် ၂၀၂၀ ခုနှစ် မတ်လ အထိ နိုင်ငံတကာရဲ့ ဆောင်ရွက်မှုတွေမှာ လူသားချင်း စာနာထောက်ထားမှုဘက်အခြမ်းနဲ့ ဖွံ့ဖြိုးမှုဘက်အခြမ်းတွေမှာ ပူးပေါင်းဆောင်ရွက်မှုတွေ မရှိတဲ့အတွက် အထိနာခဲ့တယ်။ နိုင်ငံတကာရန်ပုံငွေတွေ ရဖို့ နိုင်ငံတကာအဖွဲ့စည်း INGOs တွေအကြားမှာ ပြိုင်ဆိုင်မှုတွေ အများကြီးရှိခဲ့တယ်။ ပြီးတော့ ခင်ဗျားတို့သိတဲ့ အတိုင်းပါပဲ နှစ်ရှည်ကြာ ဖြစ်နေတဲ့ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုနဲ့ လူ့အခွင့်ရေးဆိုင်ရာ အကျပ်တည်းတွေကို ဆောင်ရွက်ရာမှာ တော်တော်ခက်ခဲတဲ့ ကျင့်၀တ်ပိုင်းဆိုင်ရာ ပြဿနာတွေ ရှိခဲ့တယ်ဗျ။ အထူးသဖြင့် ရခိုင်မှာပေါ့။ တကယ်လို့ ဒီအကြောင်းရာတွေနဲ့ ပတ်သတ်ပြီးလေ့လာသုံးသပ်ထားတဲ့ ဆန်းစစ်ချက်တွေ ဖတ်ချင်ရင် Fieldview Solutions က လီယန်မက်ဟောနီရဲ့ အစီရင်ခံစာတွေကို ဖတ်ကြည့်ဖို့ ကျွန်တော် ညွှန်းချင်ပါတယ်။
ပြီးခဲ့တဲ့ လေးလလုံးမှာ ၁၀နှစ်ကျော် ကြာ ဖြစ်ပေါ်ခဲ့တဲ့ အခြေနေတွေကို ကျွန်တော်ပြန်စဥ်းစားနေခဲ့ပြီး
ရှေ့မှာ ဘယ်လို ဆောင်ရွက်သင့်တယ်ဆိုတဲ့ လမ်းပြအချက်တွေကို ရှာဖို့ ကြိုးစားနေခဲ့တယ်။ မြန်မာဟာ များစွာသော လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှု အရေးပေါ်လိုအပ်ချက်တွေ ၊ လက်နက်ကိုင်ပဋိပက္ခတွေ မျက်နှာစာပေါင်းများစွာမှာ ကြုံတွေ့နေရတယ်၊ ဒါတွေကို နားလည်ဖို့ကြိုးစားဖို့တောင် ရှုပ်ထွေးပွေလီတယ် ဆိုတာ သိသာထင်ရှားလာတယ်။ ဒါပေမယ့် လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆောင်ရွက်နေတဲ့ အဖွဲ့ အစည်းက လုပ်ဖော်ကိုင်ဖက်တွေနဲ့ စကားပြောကြည့်တဲ့အခါမှာ နယ်စပ်ကနေ ဖြတ်ကျော်လုပ်ဆောင်တဲ့ နည်းနာပုံစံတွေ အထူးသဖြင့် ထိုင်းဘက်ကနေတဆင့် အကူညီတွေလာတဲ့ ပုံစံတွေ အပါအ၀င် ၂၀၁၀ မတိုင်မီက နယ်ပယ်အသီးသီးမှာ ဆောင်ရွက်ခဲ့ကြတဲ့ နည်းနာပုံစံတွေကို ပြန်လေ့လာနေတာတွေ အများကြီးရှိနေတယ်။
ကျွန်တော့် လုပ်ဖော်ကိုင်ဖက်ကောင်းတယောက်ဖြစ်တဲ့ မဲလ်ဘုန်း တက္ကသိုလ်က ကျမ်းရှင် အန်းန် ဒေ့ကူဘဲ ရေးသားပြုစုခဲ့တဲ့ ဗမာနိုင်ငံကိုအကူညီပေးခြင်းနိုင်ငံရေး ဆိုတဲ့ အရမ်းကောင်းတဲ့ စာအုပ်ရှိတယ်။ ကျွန်တော် သူ့စာအုပ် ကိုပြန်ဖတ်ဖြစ်ပြီး ပဋိပက္ခဖြစ်နေတဲ့ ဒေသတွေမှာ ရှိတဲ့ အရပ်သားတွေ၊ ကျန်းမာရေး၀န်ထမ်းတွေနဲ့ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ အလုပ်သမားတွေကို တိုက်ခိုက်တဲ့ စစ်အစိုးရရှိနေတဲ့ ဖိနှိပ်မှုများတဲ့ နိုင်ငံတခုမှာ အမှန်တကယ် အလုပ် လုပ်ဖို့ရာ ကျင့်၀တ်ပိုင်းဆိုင်ရာ ဝိရောဓိတွေ ၊လုပ်ငန်းပိုင်းဆိုင်ရာ စိန်ခေါ်မှုတွေ အချို့ကို သူနဲ့ ပြောဖြစ်ပါတယ်။ ပြီးခဲ့တဲ့ ၂ လမှာ အရှေ့တောင်ပိုင်းမှာ အရမ်းပြင်းထန်တဲ့ ဖိနှိပ်တိုက်ခိုက်မှုတွေကို ကျွန်တော်တို့ မြင်တွေ့ခဲ့ရပြီးပြီ။ အလားတူ ကချင်၊ ချင်းနဲ့ စစ်ကိုင်းမှာ ကောပါပဲ။ ဆက်လက်ဖြစ်ပွားနေတဲ့ ပဋိပက္ခတခု နဲ့ အရမ်းဖိနှိပ်တဲ့ စစ်အာဏာရှင်စနစ်အောက်မှာ လူတွေအမှန် တကယ်အကူညီရဖို့ ကိုဘယ်လို ကိုင်တွယ်ဖြေရှင်းကြမလဲဆို တဲ့မေးခွန်းက ရှေ့ ဆက်ဖို့အတွက် တကယ့် စိန်ခေါ်မှုကြီးပါပဲ။
တချိန်တည်းမှာပဲ နိုင်ငံတွင်းမှာရှိတဲ့ နိုင်ငံတကာအဖွဲ့စည်းတွေတင်မက ပြည်တွင်းက လူသားချင်း စာနာထောက်ထားမှုအကူညီပေးတဲ့ အဖွဲ့ စည်းတွေ၊ အရပ်ဖက်အဖွဲ့စည်းတွေ သို့မဟုတ် သူတို့ အခေါ် “ဒေသခံဖြေရှင်းကြသူများ” အားလုံးက အရင်လပေါင်းများစွာက တခါမှ စဥ်းစားတွေးမိမှာ မဟုတ်တဲ့ ရန်ကုန်ရဲ့ မြို့တွေ၊ လှိုင်သာယာ၊ ချင်းပြည်နယ် မင်းတပ်လိုမျိုး နေရာတွေမှာပါ ဖြစ်လာနေတဲ့ အကျပ်တည်းတွေကိုပါ စဥ်းစားဖြေရှင်း ရတော့မှာဖြစ်ပါတယ်။ မြို့ပြမှာရွှေ့ပြောင်းနေရာချမှု၊ မြို့ ပြမှာလိုအပ်တဲ့ လူသားချင်း စာနာထောက်ထားမှု လိုအပ်ချက်တွေက ကျွန်တော့်လုပ်ဖော်ကိုင်ဖက်တွေ ယခုလက်ရှိ စုံစမ်းလေ့လာနေတဲ့ ကိစ္စတွေပါပဲ။
အာဏာမသိမ်းမီကတည်းက ကျွန်တော်နားမလည်တဲ့ အရာတခုက နိုင်ငံတကာ ဖွံ့ ဖြိုးမှု နှင့် လူသားချင်း စာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ “ဆက်စပ်မှု” (nexus) လို့ ခေါ်တဲ့ ရှုပ်ထွေးမှု ဖြစ်ပါတယ်။ ကုလသမဂ္ဂနဲ့ အခြားသော အဖွဲ့စည်းက သူတွေ ယုံကြည်တာက မြန်မာနိုင်ငံဟာ ဖွံ့ဖြိုးရေးနဲ့ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှု ဆိုင်ရာအရေးတွေကို ပေါင်းစပ်ကိုင်တွယ်လို့ရတဲ့ အရေးကြီး ဥပမာ ဖြစ်တယ်ဆိုတာပါပဲ။ ဒါပေမယ့် အာဏာမသိမ်းမီနဲ့ ကမ္ဘာ့ကပ်ရောဂါ မရိုက်ခတ်မီ ကျွန်တော်ရဲ့ လေ့လာစောင့်ကြည့်မှုတွေအရနဲ့ ဆွေးနွေးမှုတွေအရ ဒီ ဆက်စပ်မှု ဟာ အလုပ်မဖြစ်နေဘူး ဆိုတာကို ပြသနေပါတယ်။ ဆက်စပ်မှုရှိတယ် ဆိုတဲ့ အမြင်ဟာ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုတာ ဟောင်းနွမ်းသွားပြီ၊ အံမ၀င်တော့ဘူးဆိုတဲ့ အပေါ်မှာ မျှော်မှန်း တည်ဆောက်ထားတာဖြစ်ပါတယ်။ ကျွန်တော်တွေ့ သလောက်ကတော့ ရခိုင်ပြည်နယ်၊ မြောက်ပိုင်းဒေသအချို့ နဲ့ တောင်ပိုင်း ဒေသအချို့ တွေ့ မှာ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ စိုးရိမ်ရမယ့်ကိစ္စတွေ ရှိနေပေမယ့်လည်း ဖွံ့ဖြိုးရေးသမားတွေဟာ ဒေါ်လာသန်းပေါင်းများစွာ ပိုက်ပြီး ၀င်လာခဲ့ကြတာပဲ။ ဒီပုဂ္ဂိုလ်/အဖွဲ့ စည်းတွေဟာ ကြံ့ခိုင်ရေးနှင့်ဖွံ့ ဖြိုးရေးပါတီ၊ အမျိုးသားဒီမိုကရေစီအဖွဲ့ချုပ် နဲ့ နောက်ဆုံး တပ်မတော်နဲ့ ပါ အလုပ်တွေ တွဲလုပ်ခဲ့ကြတာပဲ။ အများစုက ဒီဖွံ့ ဖြိုးရေး လုပ်ငန်းစဥ်မှာ တပ်မတော်က ကျိုးကြောင်းဆင်ခြင်မှုရှိတဲ့ ပူးပေါင်းဆောင်ရွက်ဖော်ဖြစ်တယ်လို့ စဥ်းစားခဲ့ကြပါတယ်။ အခု အတိတ်ကို ပြန်ကြည့်ရင် ဒီအမြင်ဟာ ထင်ယောင်မှားမှုသာ ဖြစ်ပါတယ်။ အခုတော့ ဒီဆက်စပ်မှုဟာလည်း လုံး၀ကျိုးပဲ့သွားခဲ့ပြီ။ အလှုရှင်တော်တော်များများလည်း တိုင်းပြည်ထဲက ထွက်သွားခဲ့ပြီ။ တံတားတွေ၊ လမ်းတွေ၊ အဆောက်အဦးတွေ၊ စတဲ့ အဆောက်အုံ စီမံကိန်း အကြီးကြီးတွေအတွက် ထုတ်ပေးမယ့် ကြွေးမြီတွေဟာလည်း ကာလတခုအထိ ရပ်တန့်သွားခဲ့ပြီ။ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှု ဆိုတဲ့ အရာကသာ နိုင်ငံထဲမှာ အဓိကကျန်နေခဲ့တဲ့ တခုတည်းသော အရာဖြစ်ပါတယ်။
ဒီနေရာမှာ ဆက်စပ်မှု ရဲ့ ငြိမ်းချမ်းရေးနှင့်ပတ်သတ်တဲ့အစိတ်ပိုင်းကိုလည်း ကျွန်တော်အနည်းငယ် ပြောချင်သေးတယ်။ ဘာကြောင့်လဲဆိုတော့ မြန်မာနိုင်ငံ ဘယ်လိုရှေ့ဆက်သွားကြမလဲ ဆိုတဲ့အကြောင်းရာကို ပြောမယ်ဆိုရင် အရမ်းအရေးပါလို့ပါ။ မြန်မာရဲ့ ငြိမ်းချမ်းရေးဖြစ်စဥ်က အာဏာမသိမ်းခင်ကတည်းက သေနေခဲ့တာပါ။ ဒါကို အရင်ပုံစံတိုင်း ပြန်စဖို့၊ အသက်သွင်းဖို့ ကြိုးစားတာဟာ မိုက်မဲမှုပါ။ ကုလသမဂ္ဂအနေနဲ့ လည်း ငြိမ်းချမ်းရေးဖြစ်စဥ်မှာ တရား၀င် ဘယ်နေရာကမှ မပါ၀င်ပါဘူး သူကစောင့်ကြည့်သူ သက်သက်ပါ။ အနောက်နိုင်ငံက အလှုရှင်အတော်များများက ငြိမ်းချမ်းရေးဖြစ်စဥ်ကို သီးသန့်ကင်းကွာနေတဲ့ ဖြစ်စဥ်တခု လို့ ရှုမြင်ခဲ့ကြတယ်။ ဒီဖြစ်စဥ်ကနေ ရခိုင်မှာ ရှိခဲ့တဲ့ ရှုပ်ထွေးမှုတွေ၊ သူတို့ရဲ့ မအောင်မြင်မှုတွေကနေ သက်သာရာရအောင် လုပ်ခဲ့တယ်။ ဒီအလှုရှင်တွေ စဥ်းစားတာက ငြိမ်းချမ်းရေးလုပ်ငန်းစဥ်ထဲ ငွေတွေ သွန် ထည့်လိုက်ရင် ဖွံ့ ဖြိုးရေးလုပ်ငန်းကို ကျယ်ကျယ်ပြန့်ပြန့်လုပ်ဖို့ လမ်းပွင့်သွားမယ်၊ နိုင်ငံကို ကူညီ နိုင်မယ်လို့ ထင်ခဲ့ကြတာပါ။
ဒီငြင်းခုံမှုတွေက အခုတော့လုံး၀ နစ်မြုပ်သေဆုံးသွားပြီ၊ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုကသာ ယနေ့ထိကျန်ခဲ့တဲ့ တခုတည်းသောအရာပါ။ ဆိုလိုတာကတော့ ပိတ်ဆို့မှုတွေပြုလုပ်၊ ကြေညာချက်တွေ ထုတ်ပြန်ရုံတင်မကဘဲ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာကနေ ကူညီဆောင်ရွက်ခြင်း နည်းနဲ့သာ နိုင်ငံတကာအသိုင်း၀ိုင်းအနေနဲ့ အမှန်တကယ် လက်တွေ့ကျကျ ကူညီနိုင်မှာဖြစ်ပါတယ်။ နိုင်ငံထဲမှာ အမှန်တကယ် လိုအပ်နေတဲ့ အရေးပေါ်လိုအပ်ချက်တွေကို ဖြေရှင်းနိုင်မှာဖြစ်ပါတယ်။
နိဂုံးအနေနဲ့ ရှေ့မှာ ဖြစ်နိုင်တဲ့ လမ်းကြောင်းတွေအချို့ ကို ဆွေးနွေးပါ့မယ်။ နိုင်ငံတကာအသိုင်း၀ိုင်း အနေနဲ့ အသက်တွေကယ်တင်မယ့် လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှု ဆိုင်ရာ လုပ်ငန်းတွေကို ဆက်လက် စွဲမြဲခိုင်မာစွာ ဆောင်ရွက်ရန်လိုပါတယ်။ သီးသန့်ခွဲ ဆောင်ရွက်မယ့် ဘယ်လိုအလားအလာ၊ ဘယ်လိုနည်းလမ်းမျိုးကမှ လူသားချင်း စာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာအကူညီတွေကို ဖမ်းဆုတ်နိုင်မယ်လို့ ကျွန်တော်မထင်ပါဘူး။ ဒါ့အပြင် တနိုင်ငံလုံးမှာ ဖြစ်ပေါ်နေတဲ့ အကျပ်တည်းတွေကို ချဥ်းကပ်ရာမှာ နည်းလမ်းများစွာ ရှိတယ်ဆိုတာကိုလည်း နားလည်ထားဖို့ လိုပါလိမ့်မယ်။ နိုင်ငံရဲ့ တနေရာမှာ ၀င်ရောက်ဖြေရှင်းဆောင်ရွက်မှုက အခြားတနေရာမှာ တပုံစံတည်း ဆောင်ရွက်လို့ရမှာမဟုတ်ပါဘူး။
ဆက်လက်လုပ်ရမယ့် ဦးစားပေးတွေ ထဲကတခုက တနိုင်ငံလုံးမှာရှိတဲ့ မြန်မာ အရပ်ဖက်အဖွဲ့ စည်းတွေနဲ့ ဒေသခံ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ အဖွဲ့တွေကို ဆက်လက်ပံ့ပိုးဖို့ ဖြစ်ပါတယ်။ အာဏာမသိမ်းခင်နဲ့ ကမ္ဘာ့ကပ်ရောဂါ မဖြစ်ခင် က လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ အလှုရှင်တွေ၊ ဆောင်ရွက်သူတွေ အများပြားက ဒေသန္တရအခြေပြုခြင်း နှင့် အဝေးမှ စီမံခန့် ခွဲခြင်းတို့ ကို ပြောဆိုဆွေးနွေးခဲ့ကြပါတယ်။ ဒီ ထပ်တလဲလဲပြောခဲ့တဲ့ အသုံးနှုန်းတွေဟာ သီအိုရီအရ စဥ်းစားမှုကနေ အမှန်တကယ် အရေးတကြီး အကောင်ထည်ဖော်ရမယ့် ကိစ္စရပ်တွေဖြစ်လာပါပြီ။ ကျွန်တော့်ကို မျှော်လင့်ချက်ပေးတဲ့ တစုံတရာရှိမယ်ဆိုရင် တနိုင်ငံလုံးမှာရှိနေတဲ့ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှု ဆောင်ရွက်နေသူ မြန်မာတွေက ဒေသန္တရအခြေပြုခြင်းမှာ ရှေ့ရောက်နေတာပဲ ဖြစ်ပါတယ်။ ကချင်၊ ကရင် ကလူတွေ ရှမ်းပြည်နယ် နေရာအချို့ကလူတွေ ဟာ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ စိန်ခေါ်ချက်တွေကို သူတို့ဘာသာဖြည့်ဆည်းနေကြဖူးပြီး ဖြစ်ပါတယ်။ သူတို့ကို ပံ့ပိုးပေးဖို့လိုအပ်တယ်လို့ ကျွန်တော်ထင်ပါတယ်။
စစ်ကောင်စီနဲ့ တပ်မတော်က အဓိကအတားဆီးဖြစ်တယ်ဆိုတာကို လူအများစု သဘောတူပါလိမ့်မယ်။ ဒါပေမယ့်လည်း အနောက်နိုင်ငံကအလှုရှင်တွေဘက်မှာ လိုက်လျောညီထွေ ပြောင်းလဲပေးမှုမရှိတာ၊ တမူ ဆန်းသစ် ဆောင်ရွက်မှု မရှိတာ၊ သတ္တိမရှိတာနဲ့ မစွန့်စားရဲတာကလည်း အဓိကပြဿနာတခုပါပဲ။
နောက်ဆုံးအနေနဲ့ ကတော့ ကုလသမဂ္ဂကို လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုတွေ ဆောက်ရွက်ပြီး မြန်မာကို ကယ်တင်မယ့်သူအနေနဲ့ ကြည့်တာ လွဲမှားနေပါတယ်။ ကုလသမဂ္ဂက မြန်မာနိုင်ငံနဲ့ ပတ်သတ်ရင် အခြေနေများစွာမှာ ပုံစံမျိုးစုံနဲ့ကို လွဲမှားမအောင်မြင်ခဲ့တာပါ။ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ စိန်ခေါ်မှုတွေကို အမှန်တကယ်ဖြေရှင်းပေးနိုင်မယ့် ယန္တရားတခုအနေနဲ့ ကုလသမဂ္ဂကို ကြည့်တဲ့သူ ဘယ်သူမဆို စိတ်ကူးလွဲနေပြီပဲ ဖြစ်ပါတယ်။ ဘယ်သူ့မှာမှ အဖြေမှန် မရှိပါဘူး။ ဒါပေမယ့် အဖြေမှန်နဲ့ အနီးစပ်ဆုံးကတော့ ဒေသခံအသိုင်း၀ိုင်းနဲ့ အမှန်တကယ်လက်တွဲဆောင်ရွက်ပြီး သူတို့ကို ကူညီပံ့ပိုးနိုင်မယ့် နည်းလမ်းတွေ ရှာဖွေဖို့ပဲဖြစ်ပါတယ်။
ခရစ္စတီနား အီဘာဘတ်ချ်။ ။ ဒေးဗစ်ရေ ဖွံ့ ဖြိုးရေးနဲ့ မတူဘဲ လူသားခြင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှု မှန်ပြောင်းနဲ့သာအဓိက ရှုမြင်ရမှာဖြစ်တယ်လို့ ရှင်ပြောခဲ့ပါတယ်။ ဒါပေမယ့် လူ့အခွင့်ရေးနဲ့ လူသားချင်းစာနာ ထောက်ထားမှု အကူညီတွေကြားက အရေးကြီးတဲ့ ဆက်နွယ်မှုကိုလဲ ပြောသွားခဲ့တယ်။
လူ့အခွင့်ရေးနှင့် လူသားချင်း စာနာ ထောက်ထားမှုတို့ဟာ တခုနဲ့တခု ဖြည့်ဘက်ဖြစ်နေတာလား ၊ ဆန့်ကျင်ဘက်ဖြစ်နေတာလား ဆိုတာက ကိုယ်ဘယ်သူနဲ့ စကားပြောနေတာလဲ ဆိုတာပေါ်မူတည်ပြီး အမြင်ကွဲတယ်ဆိုတာကို ကျွန်မသိပါတယ်။ ဘယ်လိုအပိုင်းတွေက ပူးပေါင်းဆောင်ရွက်လို့ရတဲ့ အပိုင်းတွေ ဖြစ်ပြီး ဘယ်လိုအပိုင်းတွေက တင်းမာမှုတွေ ရှိနိုင်တဲ့ အပိုင်းတွေ ဖြစ်မလဲဆိုတဲ့ အမြင်လေးလဲ ပြောပြပေးပါဦး။
ဒေးဗစ် မက်သီဆင်။ ။ အငြင်းပွားစရာ အချက်တွေ အများကြီး ရှိပါလိမ့်မယ်။
ကျွန်တော့်အတွေ့ ကြုံအရကတော့ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားရေးသမားတွေဟာ ဖွံဖြိုးရေးသမားတွေထက် လူ့အခွင့်ရေးဆိုင်ရာ အမြင် ရှုထောင့်နဲ့ ပိုသဟဇာတဖြစ်ပါတယ်။ မြန်မာမှာ ရှိတဲ့ ဖွံ့ဖြိုးရေး လုပ်ငန်း ဆောင်ရွက်သူ အဖွဲ့စည်း/ပုဂ္ဂိုလ်တွေဟာ အရမ်း စိုးရိမ်လွန်ကဲပြီး အဓိပ္ပါယ်မရှိတဲ့ “ပဋိပက္ခကို သတိပြုကိုင်တွယ်တယ်” တို့ “ဘယ်သူ့မှ မထိခိုက်စေဘူး” တို့ စတဲ့ ဖန်တရာတေ စကားလုံးတွေနောက်မှာ အမြဲပုန်းလျှိုး နေတတ်ကြပါတယ်။ သူတို့ပြောတာကတော့ “အင်း၊ ကျွန်တော်တို့ အထူးဂရုပြု ကိုင်တွယ်ဆောင်ရွက်ခဲ့ပါတယ်။ ကျွန်တော်တို့ အစီရင်ခံစာ ပြင်ဆင်ပြီးပါပြီ၊ ပိုရှုပ်ထွေးအောင် ကျွန်တော်တို့ လုပ်မှာမဟုတ်ပါဘူး” ။ ပြီးရင် သူတို့ပဲ တချိန်လုံး လွဲမှားရှုပ်ထွေးအောင် လုပ်ခဲ့တာပါ။
မြန်မာက ကုလသမဂ္ဂအတွက် အခွင့်ရေးတွေနဲ့ပတ်သတ်ရင် အဓိက အောင်မြင်အောင်ဆောင်ရွက်နိုင်ခဲ့ရမယ့် ဥပမာ ဖြစ်ရပ်တခု ဖြစ်ခဲ့ရမှာပါ။ ဒါပေမယ့် အဆုံးသတ်ကြတော့ ဒီလိုလုံးဝဖြစ်မလာခဲ့ပါဘူး။ လွန်ခဲ့တဲ့ ၁၀ နှစ်ကျော်ကို ကြည့်ရင် ကုလသမဂ္ဂက မြန်မာမှာ လူ့အခွင့်ရေး မြှင့်တင်ပေးတဲ့ ခေါင်းဆောင်တဦး မဖြစ်ခဲ့ပါဘူး။ လူ့အခွင့်ရေးနဲ့ ပတ်သတ်လာရင် ပါးစပ်နဲ့ပဲ ကူညီပံ့ပိုးပေးနေတဲ့ အနောက်နိုင်ငံကအလှုရှင်တွေ အများကြီးပဲ ရှိခဲ့ပါတယ်။ သူတို့တကယ်တွေးနေခဲ့တာက ငါတို့ဒေါ်လာသန်းပေါင်းများစွာကို သွန်ထည့်လိုက်ရင် လူတွေ အလုပ်တွေရကြမယ်၊ သူတို့ရဲ့ လူနေမှုအဆင့်တန်း တိုးတက်လာလိမ့်မယ်၊ ပြီးတော့ ငါတို့မှာ ငြိမ်းချမ်းရေး ဖြစ်စဥ်တခု ရှိနေမယ်ဆိုရင် လူ့အခွင့်ရေးဆိုင်ရာ ကိစ္စရပ်တွေဟာလည်း တဖြည်းဖြည်းနဲ့ ခွဲထုတ်ပြီးသား ဖြစ်သွားလိမ့်မယ် ပြီးတော့လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ ကိစ္စရပ်တွေလည်း တဖြည်းဖြည်း လျော့နည်းသွားလိမ့်မယ်ပဲ တွေးနေခဲ့တာပါ။ သူတို့တွေးသလို မဖြစ်ခဲ့ပါဘူး။
အာဏာသိမ်းမှုက လူများစွာရဲ့ အာရုံကိုဖမ်းယူနိုင်ခဲ့ပြီ။ တပ်မတော်ကို စောင့်ကြည့်နေတဲ့ အာရုံစိုက်မှုတွေ သွေဖယ်ခဲ့ လို့ တနိုင်ငံလုံးမှာ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှု အကျပ်တည်းပေါ်မှာ လူ့အခွင့်ရေး ဆိုင်ရာ အကျပ်တည်းတွေ အမြဲတမ်းဖြစ်ပေါ် ဖုံးလွှမ်းနေခဲ့တယ်ဆိုတဲ့ အချက်ကို မမြင်ခဲ့တာပါ။
ဘန် ဖလန်းမင်း။ ။ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ အကူအညီပေးရေး ကိစ္စတွေမှာ ကျွန်တော့်အနေနဲ့မြင်တာကတော့ ခွဲ၀ေရေးမှာ ပြဿနာရှိကြတယ်လို့ မြင်ပါတယ်။ ခုဆိုရင် နိုင်ငံတော် စီမံအုပ်ချုပ်ရေးကောင်စီ (SAC) ဟာ အာဏာသိမ်းမှု မတိုင်ခင်ကလို လွှတ်တော်မှာ ၂၅ ရာခိုင်နှုန်းပဲရှိတာမျိုး၊ ၀န်ကြီးဌာနသုံးခုကိုပဲ အပိုင်စားရထားတာမျိုး မဟုတ်တော့ပါဘူး။ သူတို့ဟာ ခုချိန်မှာဆို အစိုးရအဖွဲ့၀င် တခုလုံးကိုရော၊ ငွေကြေးစီမံခန့်ခွဲမှုကိုပါ လွှမ်းမိုးချုပ်ကိုင်နေနိုင်ပါတယ်။ ဒီတော့ ဒေသခံအဖွဲ့အစည်းတွေဆီကို ငွေကြေးပံ့ပိုးမှု ဘယ်လိုပေးမလဲဆိုတာက မေးစရာမေးခွန်းဖြစ်လာပါတယ်။ ဒီမေးခွန်းကို အမည်မဖော်လိုသူတဦးကလည်း မေးထားတယ်၊ သူမေးတာကတော့ ထိုင်းနိုင်ငံကနေတစ်ဆင့် နယ်မြေဖြတ်ကျော်ပြီး အကူအညီပေးမှုကို ဘယ်လိုရရှိနိုင်ပါမလဲ၊ ဒီလို အကူအညီပေးမှုကို အများပြည်သူရဲ့ ဖိအားကနေတဆင့် လုပ်မှာလား၊ ဒါမှမဟုတ် တိုးတိတ်ညင်သာတဲ့ သံတမန်အခင်းအကျင်းက သွားမှာလား ဆိုတာပဲ ဖြစ်ပါတယ်။
ဒေးဗစ် မက်သီဆင်။ ။ SAC အနေနဲ့ စီးပွားရေးကဏ္ဍနဲ့ ဘဏ်စနစ်ကြီးတစ်ခုလုံးကို ဖျက်ဆီးပစ်တာကတော့ အကြီးမားဆုံး စိန်ခေါ်မှုပါပဲ။ ဒါဟာ ငွေကြေးအကူအညီကို အမှန်တကယ် လိုအပ်နေတဲ့သူတွေဆီ အကူအညီ မရောက်ရှိအောင် ဖြတ်တောက်ပစ်လိုက်တာပါပဲ။ ဒါတင်မကပဲ ထုတ်လုပ်မှုလုပ်ငန်းတွေကိုပါ ရပ်တန့်စေပြီး ကုန်စည်စီးဆင်းမှုကွင်းဆက်ကြီး တခုလုံးကိုပါ ဖျက်ဆီးပစ်လိုက်ပါတယ်။ ဒါကြောင့်မို့လို့ ကျွန်တော့်အနေနဲ့က လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ အကူအညီတွေပေးကြဖို့ကို အထူးအာရုံစိုက်ပြောနေတာပါ၊ တနိုင်ငံလုံးမှာရှိတဲ့ အသက်မွေး၀မ်းကြောင်းလုပ်ငန်းတွေဟာ ဒီစစ်အာဏာသိမ်းမှုကြောင့် အတော်ကို ဖရိုဖရဲ ပျက်ဆီးသွားရပါပြီ။
ကျွန်တော့် အမြင်ကတော့ နယ်စပ်ဖြတ်ကျော် အကူအညီပေးရေးကိစ္စတွေက ထိုင်းနိုင်ငံကနေတစ်ဆင့် ကောင်းကောင်းမွန်မွန် အကူအညီပေးနိုင်ခဲ့တာကို နှစ်ပေါင်းများစွာ မြင်တွေ့ခဲ့ရပြီး ဖြစ်ပါတယ်။ အဲ့ဒီအပြင်မှာမှ အလုပ်ကို ပိုင်ပိုင်နိုင်နိုင်ရှိကြတဲ့ ကရင်၊ ကရင်နီနဲ့ မွန်ပြည်နယ်က အရပ်ဖက်အဖွဲ့အစည်းတွေဆိုတဲ့ မိတ်ဆွေကောင်းတွေလည်း ရှိကြပါတယ်။ ဒီအရပ်ဖက်အဖွဲ့အစည်းတွေဟာ သူတို့လုပ်စရာရှိတဲ့ အလုပ်တွေကို ဆက်လုပ်နေကြတယ်ဆိုတာ နိုင်ငံတကာက အလှူရှင်တွေ ရောက်လာကြတာနဲ့ အရှေ့တောင်အာရှမှာရှိနေကြတဲ့ ပဋိပက္ခတွေဟာ ချက်ချင်း ပြေလည်သွားတာ မဟုတ်ဘူးဆိုတာကို သူတို့က ကောင်းကောင်းသိကြလို့ပါပဲ။ ငြိမ်းချမ်းရေးလုပ်ငန်းတွေရဲ့ ရှုပ်ထွေးမှုတွေကို ရုတ်တရက် ကြည့်လိုက်ရင်တော့ အရှေ့တောင်အာရှဟာ ပဋိပက္ခလွန် အဖွဲ့အစည်းတစ်ခုဖြစ်တယ်ဆိုတဲ့ အမြင်မျိုးနဲ့ ခင်ဗျားတို့ကို ဖြားယောင်းပါလိမ့်မယ်၊ ဒါပေမယ့် ဒါဟာ အခြေအနေတွေကို တကယ် ဂရုတစိုက်ကြည့်တတ်တဲ့ လူတွေအတွက်တော့ လုံး၀ကို ကြောင်းကျိုးဆီလျော်မှုမရှိတဲ့၊ အဓိပ္ပာယ်လုံး၀မရှိတဲ့ စကားမျိုးပါပဲ။ အလှူရှင်တွေအနေနဲ့ သေချာမစဥ်းစားပဲ မြင်မြင်သမျှ အရာတွေအပေါ် နာမည်တွေလိုက်ကပ်ဖို့ ကြိုးစားတာတွေနဲ့ သူတို့လုပ်နေတဲ့အလုပ်တွေကိုပဲ ကြောငြာ်နေတာမျိုးကို ကျွန်တော်တို့ ထပ်ပြီး အလိုမရှိပါဘူး။ အလှူရှင်တွေအနေနဲ့ တကယ်လိုအပ်တဲ့ ပြည်သူလူထုဆီကို ငွေကြေးအကူအညီ၊ စားနပ်ရိက္ခာအကူအညီနဲ့ အခြားလိုအပ်တဲ့ အကူအညီတွေ အများကြီးပေးဖို့ကို အထူးရှေ့တန်းတင် လုပ်ကြရမှာပါ။ ဒီကိစ္စမှာလည်း အလှူရှင်တွေဟာ လက်ရှိပဋိပက္ခဖြစ်ပွားနေတဲ့ နေရာတွေကိုပဲ အဓိကကြည့်ရမှာမဟုတ်ပဲ မြို့ပေါ်တက်ပြီး ရွှေ့ပြောင်းနေထိုင်နေရတဲ့ လူဦးရေတွေ အကူအညီရရေးကိုလည်း ဆောင်ရွက်ရမှာပါ။
ဘန် ဖလန်းမင်း။ ။ဒီတော့ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှု အရေးကိစ္စဟာ အပြစ်တွေမှန်သမျှကို ဖုံးအုပ်နိုင်တယ်ပေ့ါ၊ တိုက်ပွဲတွေအကြောင်းပြောရင်းနဲ့ပဲ အကူအညီပေးရေးကိုလည်း ပြောလို့ရတယ် ဆိုတော့ ခင်ဗျားပြောတာကို ကျွန်တော် နားလည်တာကတော့ ခင်ဗျားက ပြောက်ကျားစနစ်သုံးပြီး တော်လှန်ပုန်ကန်မှု အသွင်ဆောင်တဲ့၊ ပုံစံ အဟောင်းတွေကိုဖြိုချဖျက်ဆီးပြီး လိုအပ်သလို အကူအညီပေးရတဲ့ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ အကူအညီပေးမှုမျိုးကို လှုံဆော်စည်းရုံးတယ်လို့ ခံစားမိပါတယ်။
ဒီတော့ ခုလည်း ဆယ်ကျော်သက်တယောက်က မေးထားတဲ့ “လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ အခြေအနေတွေတိုးတက်လာဖို့အတွက် သူတို့လို ဆယ်ကျော်သက်တွေအနေနဲ့ ဘာတွေလုပ်နိုင်မလဲ” ဆိုတဲ့ မေးခွန်းကို မေးချင်ပါတယ်။ ကျွန်တော်ပဲ စာတွေဖတ်တာ တအားများနေတာလားတော့ မပြောတတ်ဘူး၊ ကျွန်တော့်အနေနဲ့တော့ အဲ့ဒီမေးခွန်းဟာ အကြမ်းဖက်မှုကို အားပေးတဲ့ အသွင်ဆောင်တယ်လို့ မြင်မိတယ်၊ တပ်မတော်ကို ပြန်လည်တိုက်ခိုက်တာတွေ၊ ရဲတွေကို ပြန်လည်တိုက်ခိုက်တာတွေနဲ့ စစ်တပ်နဲ့ရဲသတင်းပေးတွေကို သတ်ဖြတ်တာတွေကိုလည်း ကြားနေမြင်နေရပါတယ်၊ ဒီတော့ အဲ့လိုဗျူဟာမျိုးတွေအတွက် နေရာရှိသင့်ပါသလား၊ ဒီလိုနည်းလမ်းသည်သာ ကျွန်တော်တို့ လိုအပ်တဲ့ အချိန်ရဖို့အတွက် တခုတည်းသော နည်းလမ်းဖြစ်ပါသလား။
ဒေးဗစ် မက်သီဆင်။ ။ ဒါကတော့ ကျွန်တော့်အနေနဲ့ ပြောပိုင်ခွင့်ရှိတဲ့ ကိစ္စလို့ မထင်ဘူးဗျ။ ခင်ဗျားအနေနဲ့ မိမိကိုယ်ကို ခုခံကာကွယ်ခြင်း လမ်းကြောင်းကို ရွေးမှဖြစ်မယ်ဆိုရင်လည်း ရတယ်၊ ရွေးပါ။ လူ့အခွင့်အရေးလှုပ်ရှားသူတယောက်အနေနဲ့ တစ်ဖက်ဖက်ကို မရွေးရင် ခင်ဗျား ၀ေဖန်ခံရတာပဲ၊ ဒီနေရာမှာ နှစ်ပေါင်းများစွာ ကျွန်တော်အသုံးပြုခဲ့တဲ့ နည်းလမ်းကတော့ ကျွန်တော်သည် နာကျင်ခံစားရသူဖက်ကပဲ ရပ်တာပဲ။ ပြီးတော့ ကျွန်တော့်အနေနဲ့ ပြောချင်တာက ခင်ဗျားက ခုခံတော်လှန်ရေးနည်းလမ်းကိုမှ ရွေးချင်တယ်ဆိုလည်းဖြစ်တယ်၊ ခင်ဗျားသဘောပဲ၊ အဲ့ဒီအပေါ်မှာ ကျွန်တော် ဘာမှ ၀င်ရောက်ဝေဖန်ဆုံးဖြတ်ခြင်း မလုပ်ဘူး။ ဒီနေရာမှာ နိုင်ငံတကာ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ ဥပဒေနဲ့ လူ့အခွင့်အရေး ဥပဒေတွေရဲ့ အရေးပါမှုက ပေါ်လွင်လာတာပဲ၊ ကျွန်တော်တို့မှာ လက်နက်ကိုင်တိုက်ပွဲတွေရဲ့ အသွင်သဏ္ဍာန်တွေနဲ့ စီမံမှု ပုံစံတွေကို ၀ေဖန်လို့ရတယ်၊ ဒါပေမယ့် အဲ့ဒီထဲမှာ ၀င်ပါသင့်၊ မပါသင့် ဆုံးဖြတ်ချက်ကိုတော့ သွားဝေဖန်လို့မရဘူးဗျ။
ဒါဟာ နိုင်ငံတကာ အလှူရှင်တွေအနေနဲ့ အလွန်အကျွံ စိုးရိမ်ပူပန်နေကြတဲ့ ဖြစ်စဥ်ရဲ့ ဝိရောဓိတစ်ခုကိုလည်း ပြသရာရောက်ပါတယ်။ ပထမပိုင်းမှာတော့ သူတို့က “ငြိမ်းငြိမ်းချမ်းချမ်း ဆန္ဒထုတ်ဖော်နေကြတယ်တွေ့လား၊ အဲ့ဒါ ဘယ်လောက်ကောင်းသလဲ” ဘာညာနဲ့ ပြောကြတယ်၊ အစပိုင်းတော့ နှစ်သက်ကြတယ်ပေ့ါဗျာ။ နောက်တော့ ဆန္ဒပြမှုတွေဟာ နည်းနည်း အကြမ်းဖက်တဲ့ အသွင်ဆောင်လာတယ်ဆိုရင် အလှူရှင်တွေအနေနဲ့က “တော်ပါပြီ၊ဒါကိုတော့ သည်းမခံနိုင်ဘူး၊ဒါကိုတော့ ထောက်ပံ့ကူညီမှု မပေးနိုင်ဘူး” ဆိုတာမျိုးတွေဖြစ်သွားကြတယ်။ ကျွန်တော့်အမြင်မှာတော့ နိုင်ငံတကာ အလှူရှင်တွေအနေနဲ့က လုံး၀အဓိပ္ပာယ်မရှိတဲ့၊ ရူးနှမ်းတဲ့ စကားလုံးဖြစ်တဲ့ “ထွက်ပေါက်” ဆိုတာကို သုံးပြီး ဒီကိစ္စတွေကို ဖြေရှင်းဖို့မှာ SAC ကနေတဆင့်ပဲ သွားဖို့ ကြိုးစားနေကြတယ်လို့ ကျွန်တော်မြင်တယ်။ ကျွန်တော်တို့အနေနဲ့က ရှေ့ဆက်သွားဖို့ရာမှာ ကိုယ်ကျင့်စံတန်ဖိုးဆိုင်ရာ ပဟေဠိတွေ အများကြီးကိုလည်း ရင်ဆိုင်ဖြေရှင်းရလိမ့်ဦးမယ်။ အလှူရှင်တွေပေးတဲ့ အကူအညီတွေကို အချို့သော လက်နက်ကိုင်တွေက ရရှိစံစားလိမ့်မယ်ဆိုတဲ့ အတွေးလောက်နဲ့တော့ နိုင်ငံတကာ အလှူရှင်တွေအနေနဲ့ လက်တွန့်သွားတဲ့အထိ မဖြစ်သင့်ပါဘူး။
မြန်မာပြည်ကို ဆီးရီးယားနဲ့ ခိုင်းနှိုင်း သုံးသပ်ပြနေတာလည်း ရူးနှမ်းပြီး အဓိပ္ပာယ်မဲ့ပါတယ်။ မြန်မာပြည်ဟာ မြန်မာပြည်ပါပဲ၊ ဆီးရီးယားမှ မဟုတ်တာ။ ဘယ်သူကမှလည်း တစ်ဖက်တည်းကပဲ လက်နက်ကိုင်ဖို့ကို ပြောနေကြတာမှ မဟုတ်တာ၊ ဒီစကားကို ကျွန်တော် ဆီးရီးယားမှာရှိနေတဲ့ ပြည်သူတွေကို ကိုယ်ချင်းစာပြီး ကျွန်တော်ပြောတာပါ။ အလှူရှင်တွေအနေနဲ့လည်း မြန်မာပြည်တွင်းမှာရှိတဲ့ အသက်ရှင်ရပ်တည်နိုင်မှုအတွက် အကူအညီလိုအပ်နေတဲ့ သန်းပေါင်းများစွာသောလူတွေကို အကူအညီပေးနိုင်ဖို့ နည်းလမ်းရှာပြီး မြန်မာပြည်တွင်းက ကိစ္စတွေကို အဓိက အလေးပေး စဥ်းစားရပါမယ်။
ခရစ္စတီးနား အီဘာဘတ်ချ်။ ။ ရှင့်အနေနဲ့ကတော့ ဒီအခြေအနေမှာ ဒေသခံပြည်သူလူထုကနေတဆင့် ပူးပေါင်းလုပ်ဆောင်ခြင်းကသာ အကောင်းဆုံးရွေးချယ်မှုဖြစ်တယ်လို့ ပြောသွားပါတယ်။ ဒါပေမယ့် ခုဖြစ်ပေါ်နေတဲ့ ဖိနှိပ်မှု အတိုင်းအတာကို ကြည့်ရင် ဒါကြောင့်မို့လို့ ဒေသခံ၊အရပ်ဖက်အဖွဲ့အစည်းတွေအပေါ် စိန်ခေါ်စွန့်စားရမှုတွေ သက်ရောက်လာစေမယ်လို့ မထင်မိဘူးလားရှင့်။ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ အကူအညီပေးကြတဲ့ အချို့သူတွေကို တရားဥပဒေမဲ့ ဖမ်းဆီးတာတွေတောင် ကြားထားပြီးသားဆိုတော့လေ။ အလှူရှင်တွေအနေနဲ့ ဒေသခံပြည်သူလူထုနဲ့ ပူးပေါင်းပြီး ရှေ့ဆက်သွားလို့ရအောင်လုပ်တာရယ်နဲ့ ဒေသခံအဖွဲ့အစည်းတွေရဲ့ လုံခြုံမှုနဲ့ ဘေးကင်းမှုကိုလည်း ကာကွယ်ပေးရတဲ့ နှစ်ခုအကြား ဘယ်လိုမျိုးများ ဟန်ချက်ညီအောင် ထိန်းလို့ရမယ်လို့ ရှင်ထင်သလဲရှင့်။
ဒေးဗစ် မက်သီဆင်။ ။ ဒါဟာ အရမ်းကောင်းတဲ့မေးခွန်းတစ်ခုပါပဲ။ ဒေသခံ၊အရပ်ဖက်အဖွဲ့အစည်းတွေအတွက် စိန်ခေါ်စွန့်စားရမှုကြီးပါတယ်၊ ဒါပေမယ့် သူတို့တွေဟာ ဒီ စွန့်စားရမှုတွေကို နှစ်ပေါင်းများစွာ ထိတ်တိုက်ရင်ဆိုင်ပြီး အလုပ်လုပ်လာကြပြီးသားပါ၊ အထူးသဖြင့် ကချင်ပြည်နယ်၊ ရှမ်းပြည်နယ် အရှေ့တောင်ပိုင်းနဲ့ ရှမ်းပြည်နယ် မြောက်ပိုင်းဒေသတွေမှာပေ့ါ။ ဒီကိစ္စကြီးမှာ ဘယ်လိုလှုပ်ရှားရမယ်ဆိုတာနဲ့ အလုပ်ဖြစ်အောင် ဘယ်လိုနည်းလမ်းရှာရမလဲဆိုတာကို ပြည်တွင်းမှာရှိတဲ့ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ အကူအညီတွေပေးနေကြတဲ့သူတွေနဲ့ ပြည်တွင်းမှာရှိတဲ့ အစိုးရမဟုတ်တဲ့ နိုင်ငံတကာ အဖွဲ့အစည်းတွေမှာ အလုပ်လုပ်နေကြတဲ့ ၀န်ထမ်းတွေက နိုင်ငံပြင်ပက နိုင်ငံခြားသားတွေထက် အများကြီး ပိုသိကြပါတယ်။ အာဏာသိမ်းမှုအလွန် ကာလဟာ အကြမ်းဖက်မှုတွေ အများကြီး ဖြစ်ပေါ်စေပါတယ်၊ လွန်ခဲ့တဲ့ ၆ လလောက်ကအထိ မမှန်းထားခဲ့တဲ့ အကြမ်းဖက်မှုတွေပါ။ ဒါပေမယ့်လည်း လူတွေအများကြီးဟာ လုံခြုံရေးဆိုင်ရာ အကျပ်အတည်းတွေကို ဘယ်လိုရင်ဆိုင်ရမလဲ၊ ဒီ အကျပ်အတည်းတွေကနေ ဘယ်လိုနည်းလမ်သုံးပြီး ပါးပါးနပ်နပ် ကျော်လွှားရမလဲဆိုတာကို သိတဲ့သူတွေ ရှိကြပါတယ်။ ပြောချင်တာကတော့ သူတို့ရင်ဆိုင်ရမယ့် စိန်ခေါ်စွန့်စားမှုရမှုတွေကို လျှော့မတွက်ပဲ ဒီအရေးကိစ္စတွေကို ဘယ်လိုဖြေရှင်းမလဲဆိုတာကို ကောင်းကောင်းနားလည်ကြတဲ့သူတွေရှိတယ် ဆိုတာပါပဲ။
ဒါကြောင့်မို့လို့လည်း ကျွန်တော်က ဒီနေရာမှာ အနောက်နိုင်ငံက အလှူရှင်အချို့နဲ့ ကမ္ဘာ့ကုလသမဂ္ဂအဖွဲ့အစည်းရဲ့ လုပ်ကိုင်ပုံတွေဟာ အားမလို၊အားမရ ဖြစ်စရာကောင်းတယ်လို့ ထင်မိတာပါ။ လူတွေဟာ သူတို့ဟာသူတို့ လုပ်ကိုင်နိုင်စွမ်း၊ စွမ်းရည်တွေပြည့်၀နေပြီးတာတောင်မှ လူတွေကို စွမ်းဆောင်ရည်ပြည့်၀အောင် လုပ်ပေးရမယ်ဆိုပြီး အဲ့ဒီစကားလုံးကိုပဲ သုံးစွဲနေတာဟာ တော်တော်ကိုပဲ ဆိုးရွားပြီး စွမ်းဆောင်ရည်ရှိကြပြီးသား လူတွေကို နှိမ့်ချရာရောက်ပါတယ်။ လူတွေမှာ လုပ်ကိုင်နိုင်စွမ်း ရှိကြတယ်ဆိုရင် လိုအပ်တဲ့ ငွေကြေးအကူအညီပဲ ပေးလိုက်ရုံပဲလေ။ သံရုံးထဲမှာ ထိုင်နေတဲ့ နိုင်ငံတကာအလှူရှင်ထက်တော့ ပြည်တွင်းကလူတွေက စိန်ခေါ်စွန့်စားရမှုတွေကို ပိုသိတာပေ့ါဗျ။ ခင်ဗျားတို့ကြောင့် သူတို့က ပိုပြီး စိန်ခေါ်စွန့်စားရမှုတွေရှိမယ်၊ သူတို့ကို အကျဥ်းအကျပ်ထဲ တွန်းပို့လိုက်သလိုဖြစ်မယ်လို့တော့ သွားမတွေးနဲ့ဗျ၊ အဲ့လူတွေက သူတို့ ဘာလုပ်နေရတယ်ဆိုတာ သူတို့ကိုယ်သူတို့ ကောင်းကောင်းသိကြပြီးသားပါ။
ဘန် ဖလန်းမင်း။ ။ ဒေးဗစ်၊ ခင်ဗျားအနေနဲ့ စီးပွားရေးပိတ်ဆို့မှုတွေနဲ့ သေချာ ထိထိရောက်ရောက်ဖြစ်အောင် ကြံစည်ထားတဲ့ စီးပွားရေးပိတ်ဆို့မှုတွေ ရောက်လာတာ မြင်ချင်တယ်လို့ ပြောခဲ့တယ်နော်။ ဒီတော့ အဲ့လို လုပ်ရပ်တွေဟာ ဘယ်လိုပုံသဏ္ဍာန် ဖြစ်သင့်သလဲ၊ ပြီးတော့ ဒီ စီးပွားရေးပိတ်ဆို့မှုတွေကနေတဆင့် ဘယ်လိုဖိအားတွေကို ပေးနိုင်မယ်လို့ ခင်ဗျားထင်သလဲဗျ။
ဒေးဗစ်မက်သီဆင်။ ။ မကြာခင်က ချမှတ်လိုက်တဲ့ စီးပွားရေးပိတ်ဆို့မှုတွေကြောင့် SAC နဲ့ မင်းအောင်လှိုင်ကများ အစိုးရကို အာဏာပြန်လွှဲပေးမယ်လို့ ထင်နေလား။ အဲ့လို ဘယ်ဖြစ်မလဲ။ ဒါပေမယ့် စီးပွားရေးပိတ်ဆို့သင့်တဲ့ လူတွေ၊ တကယ် ပိတ်ဆို့သင့်တဲ့ စီးပွားရေးလုပ်ငန်းတွေကို ပိတ်ဆို့တာရောဖြစ်ရဲ့လား၊ အဲ့ဒါတော့ ဖြစ်တယ်၊ ဒါဟာ တကယ်ကို မြင်သာထင်ရှားတယ်။ ကျွန်တော်တို့ လိုလားတောင့်တတဲ့ သက်ရောက်မှုက SAC နဲ့ ရွေးကောက်ခံ အမတ်တွေကို အာဏာပြန်လွှဲပေးဖို့အတွက်ဆိုရင်တော့ ဒီ စီးပွားရေးပိတ်ဆို့မှုတွေက လိုလားတောင့်တတဲ့ သက်ရောက်မှုကို ရနိုင်မယ်လို့ ကျွန်တော်မထင်ပါဘူး။
အနောက်နိုင်ငံက လူတချို့ရဲ့ လွဲမှားနေတဲ့ အမြင်က ဘာလဲဆိုတော့ သူတို့က စီးပွားရေးပိတ်ဆို့မှု တချို့လုပ်မယ်၊ သံတမန်ရေးရာ အားထုတ်မှုတွေအတွက်တော့ ASEAN ကို ရှေ့ဆောင်အနေနဲ့ ထားလို့ရနေမယ်လို့ ထင်နေတာပါပဲ။ ဒါဟာ ကျွန်တော်မြင်ဖူးသမျှတွေထဲမှာ ကိုယ်ကျင့်သိက္ခာအရရော၊ ဥာဏ်ရည်ပိုင်းဆိုင်ရာအရရော၊ ကုန်ကုန်ပြောရရင် ကြောင်းကျိုးဆင်ခြင်နိုင်တဲ့ ဥာဏ်ရည်တောင်မှ မရှိတဲ့ တော်တော်ကို ရူးကြောင်ကြောင်နိုင်တဲ့ စိတ်ကူးပါပဲဗျာ။ ASEAN အနေနဲ့ ဂေါက်ရိုက်တာကလွဲလို့ တခြားဖြစ်ဖြစ်မြောက်မြောက် လုပ်နိုင်တာရှိတယ်လို့ ထင်နေကြသူ ဘယ်သူမဆိုဟာ ကိုယ့်ကိုယ်ကို လှည့်ဖျားနေကြတဲ့သူတွေပါပဲ။ ASEAN ကို မေ့လိုက်ပါ၊ လုပ်ရမယ့် စီးပွားရေးပိတ်ဆို့မှုတွေ ဆက်လုပ်ပါ။ ဒီကိစ္စမှာဆို သြစတေးလျားအနေနဲ့ ရှက်ဖို့တောင် ကောင်းတယ်၊ သူတို့အနေနဲ့က စီးပွားရေးပိတ်ဆို့မှုတွေ မလုပ်ပဲ စစ်တပ်ထဲမှာ သူတို့သိပြီးသား အဆက်အသွယ်ကနေတဆင့်၊ ASEAN ကနေတဆင့် အပြောင်းအလဲတွေကို ဖော်ဆောင်နိုင်မယ်လို့ ထင်နေတာ တကယ်ကို ယုတ္တိမတန်တဲ့၊ အဓိပ္ပာယ်လုံး၀မရှိတဲ့ အတွေးပါပဲ။
နောက်တဆင့် စဥ်းစားရမှာက ကမ္ဘာ့ကုလသမဂ္ဂရဲ့ ကြား၀င်ဖျန်ဖြေတဲ့ ကိစ္စတွေကရော အလုပ်ဖြစ်နိုင်မလားဆိုတာပဲ။ ကျွန်တော်ကတော့ ဟင့်အင်း….မဖြစ်နိုင်ဘူးလို့ပဲ ဖြေရမယ်၊ ကုလသမဂ္ဂရဲ့ အထူးကိုယ်စားလှယ်အနေနဲ့ စေတနာပါတဲ့၊ အကောင်းဖက်ကို ရည်ရွယ်တဲ့ လုပ်ရပ်တွေဟာ တကယ်တော့ သက်ရောက်မှုသိသိသာသာ မရှိဘူးလို့ ထင်ပါတယ်။ သူမ အဲ့လိုလုပ်ပေးနေတာတွေက ဘေဂျင်းအတွက်တော့ အရေးကြီးပါတယ်။ အဲ့ဒီလုပ်ရပ်တွေကနေ ကျွန်တော်တို့ လိုလားတောင့်တတဲ့ ရလဒ်ရမလားလို့ မေးရင်တော့ မရနိုင်ဖို့ များပါလိမ့်မယ်။ ဒါပေမယ့် ဒီလုပ်ရပ်တွေက ASEAN နဲ့ ဆက်သွယ်လုပ်ဆောင်ရတာထက်၊ သံတမန်အခင်းအကျင်းအရ ပိုပြီး အားစိုက်၊ အကုန်ကျခံရပါတယ်။ အိန္ဒိယ၊ ဂျပန်၊ တောင်ကိုရီးယား စတဲ့ နိုင်ငံတွေနဲ့ ဆက်ဆံဖို့ကိုလည်း ခဏမေ့လိုက်ပါ။ ရုရှားနဲ့ စကားပြောဖို့ကိုလည်း စဥ်းစားမနေနဲ့၊ သူတို့က မြန်မာပြည်ကို လက်နက်ရောင်းလို့ရတဲ့ စျေးကွက်ပန်းတိုင် တခုလိုပဲ မြင်နေတာ၊ ဒါပဲ။
တကယ်တော့ မေးခွန်းအကြီးကြီး ရှိနေတာက တရုတ်နဲ့ ပက်သတ်လို့ပဲ။ တရုတ်ရဲ့ လားရာကို ပြောင်းလဲပစ်ဖို့အတွက် ဗြိတိန်၊ အမေရိကန်၊ ကနေဒါ၊ ဥရောပသမဂ္ဂနဲ့ သြစတေးလျား နိုင်ငံတွေက သူတို့ရဲ့ သံတမန်ရေးရာ ကုန်ကျမှုတွေကို ထပ်မံတိုးချဲ့ကြမလား ဆိုတာ မေးစရာရှိပါတယ်။ အဲ့လို လုပ်ချင်မှ လုပ်မယ်။ ဒါပေမယ့် ထပ်ပြောရရင် ဒီကိစ္စဟာ လက်နက်တင်သွင်းခွင့် ပိတ်ဆို့တဲ့ ကိစ္စလိုမျိုးပဲ၊ အကြောင်းပြချက်မျိုးစုံကြောင့် တကယ်ကတော့ အကောင်အထည် မဖော်နိုင်ဘူး။ ဒါပေမယ့် ဒီပြဿနာတွေရဲ့ အဓိက လက်သည်တရားခံက ဘယ်သူလဲဆိုတာကို လူတွေများများသိလာအောင် လုပ်တဲ့ ဖြစ်စဥ်တခုအနေနဲ့တော့ အရေးပါတယ်၊ ပြီးတော့ SAC ကိုရော မင်းအောင်လှိုင်ကိုပါ မတည်မငြိမ်ဖြစ်အောင် လုပ်နိုင်မယ့် ကိစ္စမှန်သမျှကိုတော့ လုပ်ဖို့ရာ ထိုက်တန်တယ်လို့ ကျွန်တော်မြင်တယ်။ သူသာ နေပြည်တော်မှာ ထိုင်နေပြီး အနောက်နိုင်ငံ အစိုးရတွေနဲ့ ဘေဂျင်းကြား ဆွေးနွေးဆက်ဆံမှုတွေလုပ်နေပြီဆိုတာကို သိနေရင် အဲ့ဒီ ဆွေးနွေးမှုတွေက အလုပ်မဖြစ်ဦးတော့၊ သူ ညည အိပ်လို့မရပဲ အိပ်ရေးပျက်တာတွေတော့ ဖြစ်မှာပေ့ါဗျာ။
ဘန် ဖလန်းမင်း။ ။ ကျွန်တော် မေးချင်တာ နောက်တခု ရှိပါသေးတယ်၊ မြန်မာနိုင်ငံမှာ မကြာသေးမီကမှ ဖြစ်ခဲ့တဲ့ နိုင်ငံရေးကိစ္စတွေကြောင့် တိုင်းပြည်အနှံ့အပြားမှာ ပဋိပက္ခတွေ ပုံသဏ္ဍာန်မျိုးစုံနဲ့ ပေါ်ပေါက်လာတာကို ကျွန်တော်တို့ တွေ့ရပါတယ်။ ဒီတော့ ကံမကောင်းစွာနဲ့ပဲ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ အကျပ်အတည်း ကြီးကြီးမားမား ဆိုက်လာတယ်ပေ့ါဗျာ။ ဆိုတော့ ဒီ အကျပ်အတည်းကို ဖြေရှင်းဖို့ရာမှာ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ အပစ်အခတ်ရပ်စဲရေးဆိုတဲ့ နည်းလမ်းမျိုးနဲ့ရော ဖြေရှင်းလို့ရမယ်လို့ ထင်လားဗျ၊ ပြီးတော့ နိုင်ငံတကာအဖွဲ့အစည်းတွေအနေနဲ့ရော ဒီအချက်ကို ရည်မှန်းပြီး ကူညီသင့်တယ်လို့ထင်လား။ ဒီလို အကူအညီမျိုးကိုရော ပဋိပက္ခတွေမှာ ပါဝင်ပက်သတ်နေကြတဲ့သူတွေအနေနဲ့ ဘယ်လောက်ထိ လက်ခံသဘောတူနိုင်မယ်လို့ ထင်လဲဗျ။
ဒေးဗစ် မက်သီဆင်။ ။ အဲ့ဒါက တော်တော်ကောင်းတဲ့ စိတ်ကူးပါ၊ ပြဿနာက တပ်မတော်အနေနဲ့ အပစ်အခတ်ရပ်စဲရေး သဘောတူစာချုပ်ကို လက်မှတ်ထိုးထားပြီးသား၊ ပြီးတော့ လွန်ခဲ့တဲ့ သုံးနှစ်အတွင်းမှာလည်း အပစ်အခတ် မရှိခဲ့ဘူး။ တပ်မတော်က တစ်ဖက်သတ် အပစ်အခတ်ရပ်စဲရေးကို ကြော်ငြာပြီးလည်း သူတို့ဖက်ကနေ ပစ်ခတ်နေတာပဲ။ ဒါမျိုးလုပ်ရပ်ဟာ တပ်မတော်အနေနဲ့ တစ်သက်လုံး လုပ်လာခဲ့တဲ့ နည်းလမ်းမျိုး၊ အဲ့ဒီနည်းလမ်းဟာလည်း တနိုင်ငံလုံးမှာရှိတဲ့ လူအများအပါအ၀င် ဘယ်သူ့ကိုမှ ကောင်းကျိုးမဖြစ်စေပါဘူး။
လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ တနိုင်ငံလုံး အပစ်အခတ်ရပ်စဲရေးကတော့ ကျွန်တော့်အမြင်မှာ အလုပ်ဖြစ်မယ် မထင်ပါဘူး။ ပါ၀င်တဲ့ အဖွဲ့အစည်းတွေက တအားအများကြီးကိုး။ ရပ်ရွာလူထု၊နယ်ခံတွေအတွက် အမှန်တကယ်အကျိုးရှိအောင် လုပ်ထားတဲ့ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ အပစ်အခတ်ရပ်စဲရေးက မူအားဖြင်တော့ သိပ်ကိုကောင်းပါတယ်၊ ကျွန်တော်လည်း လုံးဝဥဿုံ သဘောတူတယ်။ ဒါပေမယ့် ခုပြဿနာက နေရာအများကြီးမှာရှိတဲ့ အဖွဲ့အစည်းအများကြီးကို ဒါကြီးကို သဘောတူလာအောင် လုပ်ရမှာဗျ၊ ဘယ်သူက ဘယ်သူလဲဆိုတာကို သိဖို့ လုပ်ရတဲ့ အဆင့်မှာတင်ကိုက တော်တော်ကြီးကို ပြဿနာရှိတယ်၊ ခက်ခဲနေတယ်ဗျ။ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ အပစ်အခတ်ရပ်စဲရေးကိစ္စမှာ နောက်ထပ်ရှိနေတဲ့ ပြဿနာတစ်ခုကလည်း သူက ကာလတစ်ခုရောက်ရင် တစ်ဖက်ဖက်ကိုပဲ အကျိုးရှိစေတာမျိုးပဲ။ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ တနိုင်ငံလုံး အပစ်အခတ်ရပ်စဲရေး အလုပ်မဖြစ်နိုင်တဲ့ ကိစ္စကလည်း အဲ့ဒီ အပစ်အခတ်ရပ်စဲရေး ကိစ္စမှာ ရိုးသားဖြောင့်မတ်မှု လုံး၀ကို မရှိတဲ့ တပ်မတော်ဆိုတဲ့ အဖွဲ့အစည်းကြီးနဲ့ ဆွေးနွေးညှိနှိုင်းဆောင်ရွက်ရမှာဗျ၊ ဒါကြောင့်မို့လို့လည်း ဒါဟာ တကယ့် အကျိုးသက်ရောက်မှုကို မဖြစ်စေနိုင်ဘူးလို့ ကျွန်တော်ပြောတာပါ။
ခရစ္စတီးနား အီဘာဘတ်ချ်။ ။ ပရိတ်သတ်ကနေမေးထားတဲ့ နောက်ဆုံးမေးခွန်းလေးတစ်ခု ဖြေပေးပါဦးရှင့်၊ ပြီးတော့ ကျွန်မတို့ နိဂုံးချုပ် မဆွေးနွေးခင် ဘန်ကလည်း မေးစရာတစ်ခုလောက် ရှိပါသေးတယ်။ ပရိတ်သတ်တစ်ဦးရဲ့ မေးခွန်းကတော့ “လိုအပ်နေတဲ့ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ အကူအညီပေးဖို့အတွက် အကြမ်းမဖက် အာဏာဖီဆန်တဲ့ လှုပ်ရှားမှု CDM က ဘယ်လိုပုံစံနဲ့ ပါ၀င်ပက်သတ်နေပါသလဲ။ ဗမာလူမျိုး အများစုနေထိုင်တဲ့ မြို့ပေါ်လို နေရာတွေမှာဆိုရင် CDM ကြောင့် တပ်မတော်အနေနဲ့ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ အကူအညီတွေကို ပိတ်ဆို့တားဆီးတာမျိုး ပိုပြီးဖြစ်လာနိုင်ပါသလား။ တပ်မတော်ရဲ့ “ဖြတ်လေးဖြတ်” အစီအစဥ်ထဲက အတိုင်းပဲ အဲ့လို ပိတ်ဆို့တားဆီးမှုတွေ ဖြည်းဖြည်းချင်း တိုးပွားလာတာကို မြင်နေရတယ် မဟုတ်လား” ဆိုတာပါပဲ။
ဒေးဗစ် မက်သီဆင်။ ။ ဒါကတော့ မြို့ပေါ်နေရာတွေမှာစဥ်းစားရတဲ့ ဝိရောဓိပေ့ါဗျာ။ ကိုဗစ်-၁၅ ကပ်ရောဂါဘေးကြောင့်ရော၊ စစ်အာဏာသိမ်းမှုကြောင့်ရော စားနပ်ရိက္ခာကုန်စည်စီးဆင်းမှု ပြတ်တောက်မှုတွေရှိတယ်၊ ပြီးတော့ ဆင်းရဲတဲ့ လူအများစုလည်း အလုပ်လက်မဲ့ဖြစ်ကုန်တယ်။ သူတို့တွေအတွက်တော့ အသက်ရှင်ရပ်တည်နိုင်ရေးအတွက် အကူအညီတွေလိုမှာပဲလေ၊ အဲ့အတွက်လည်း ကမ္ဘာ့စားနပ်ရိက္ခာအဖွဲ့အစည်းအနေနဲ့ ကူညီနေတာကို ကျွန်တော် တွေ့ပါတယ်။
အသက်ရှင်ရပ်တည်နိုင်ရေးအတွက် အကူအညီပေးတယ်ဆိုတာဟာ အရမ်းကိုမှ အလွန်အကျွံ ထိခိုက်နိုင်တဲ့၊ ဒုက္ခတွေကြုံတွေ့နေကြရတဲ့သူတွေကို စားနပ်ရိက္ခာရဖို့ ကူညီတာပါ၊ အဲ့ဒါကို ဘာနဲ့မှ ပိတ်ပင်တားဆီးခြင်း မပြုသင့်ပါဘူး။ အစိုးရနဲ့ လုံခြုံရေးတပ်ဖွဲ့၀င်တွေရဲ့ လှုပ်ရှားမှုတွေကို နှောင့်ယှက်ဟန့်တားဖို့ နည်းလမ်းတွေအများကြီးရှိပါတယ်၊ ဒါပေမယ့် လိုအပ်နေသူတွေဆီ လူသားချင်းစာနာထောက်ထားမှုဆိုင်ရာ အကူအညီတွေ အလျင်အမြန် ရောက်ရမယ့် အရေးမှာတော့ ဘယ်ဖက်ကမှ ဒါကို ပစ်မှတ်ထား မတိုက်ခိုက်ဖို့ လိုအပ်ပါတယ်။
ဘန်ဖလန်းမင်း။ ။ အကြမ်းမဖက် အာဏာဖီဆန်တဲ့ လုပ်ရပ်တွေလည်း ရေရှည်သွားလို့ရသလောက် သွားနိုင်လိမ့်မယ်လို့ မျှော်လင့်ပါတယ်။ နောက်ဆုံးမေးခွန်းတစ်ခုအနေနနဲ့ မေးချင်တာလေးရှိပါတယ်။ ပြည်သူ့ကာကွယ်ရေးတပ်ဖွဲ့ ဖွဲ့စည်းဖို့နဲ့ တိုင်းရင်းသားလက်နက်ကိုင်တွေကို စုစည်းပြီး ဖယ်ဒရယ်တပ်မတော်အနေနဲ့ ပေါင်းစည်းဖွဲ့စည်းဖို့ လုပ်နေတာတွေလည်း ကြားရပါတယ်။ တိုင်းရင်းသားလက်နက်ကိုင် အစုအဖွဲ့တွေရဲ့ လိုအပ်ချက်နဲ့ နည်းဗျူဟာတွေအပေါ်မှာ မူတည်ပြီးတော့ရော၊ မယုံကြည်မှုတွေရော အပေါ်မှာရော အခြေခံ စဥ်းစားမယ်ဆိုရင် ဒီ စုစည်းမှုမဟာမိတ်တွေဟ SAC ရဲ့ တချို့သော လုပ်ရပ်တွေကို လုံး၀ရပ်တန့်သွားအောင် လုပ်ပစ်နိုင်မယ်လို့ မျှော်လင့်လို့ ရနိုင်မလား ခင်ဗျ။
ဒေးဗစ် မက်သီဆင်။ ။ ကျွန်တော်လည်း အဲ့လို မျှော်လင့်ချင်တာပေ့ါဗျာ၊ ဒါပေမယ့် အမျိုးသားညီညွတ်ရေး အစိုးရ တစ်ခုတည်းကပဲ သူတို့တွေအားလုံးကို အုပ်ချုပ်မယ်ဆိုတဲ့ မျှော်မှန်းချက်တွေလည်း ရှိနေပြန်ရော။ ကျွန်တော်ကတော့ အဲ့လို မျှော်လင့်တာဟာ လက်တွေ့မကျဘူးလို့ပဲ ထင်ပါတယ်။ အမျိုးသားညီညွတ်ရေးအစိုးရမှာလည်း အားနည်းမှုတွေရှိနေပါသေးတယ်၊ ပြီးတော့ တရား၀င်မှုရရေး ကိစ္စမှာလည်း မေးစရာတွေရှိနေပြန်ပါသေးတယ်။ သူတို့တွေကို လုံး၀ထည့်မထွက်ဖို့ ပြောတာမဟုတ်ဘူးနော်၊ သူတို့ တော်တော် ကြိုးစားပမ်းစား လုပ်နေတာလည်း မြင်ရပါတယ်၊ ဒါပေမယ့် သူတို့အနေနဲ့ကတော့ ပြည်ပြေးအစိုးရအနေနဲ့ စင်ပြိုင်အစိုးရထောင်ဖို့တော့ တော်တော်လေး စိန်ခေါ်မှု များမယ် ထင်ပါတယ်။ လက်နက်ကိုင် အဖွဲ့အစည်းတွေနဲ့ တိုင်းရင်းသားဒေသတွေမှာလည်း အမျိုးသား ဒီမိုကရေစီ အဖွဲ့ချုပ် (NLD) က လွန်ခဲ့တဲ့ ၁၀ နှစ်အတွင်း သူတို့တွေကို လျစ်လျူရှူခဲ့တယ်လို့ မြင်ထားခဲ့ကြတာကိုး၊ ပြီးတော့ ခုမှပဲ သူတို့ကလည်း အကူအညီသွားပြန်တောင်းနေသလိုတော့ ဖြစ်နေပါတယ်။
ကျွန်တော့်အမြင်မှာတော့ အစစအရာရာကို ထိန်းချုပ်ချင်တဲ့ ဖိအားတွေကို ဒီအစုအဖွဲ့တွေအနေနဲ့လည်း ခုခံတွန်းလှန်ရမယ်၊ “စည်းလုံးညီညွတ်မှု”ဆိုတဲ့ စကားရပ်ကိုလည်း ရှောင်သင့်တယ်လို့ ထင်ပါတယ်။ အဲ့ဒီ စည်းလုံးညီညွတ်မှု ဆိုတဲ့ စကားဟာ မြန်မာပြည်မှာ တကယ်ကို ပြဿနာ အကြီးကြီးရှိတဲ့ ကိစ္စပါ။ ဆန့်ကျင်တော်လှန်နေကြတဲ့ အစုအဖွဲ့၊ အုပ်စုတွေကြားမှာ ဘယ်သူ့ကိုပြောလိုက်ရင် ရပြီဆိုတဲ့ ရှင်းလင်းတိကျတဲ့ ချိတ်ဆက်ဆောင်ရွက်မှု ပုံစံမျိုးနဲ့သွားချင်တဲ့ neat resistance complex လိုမျိုးကို ကျွန်တော့်အနေနဲ့ကတော့ လက်မခံ၊ ဆန့်ကျင်ချင်ပါတယ်။ သူ့ရဲ့ သတ်မှတ်ချက် အယူအဆမှာကိုတင် အလွန်ကို ရှုပ်ထွေးပွေလီပြီး၊ လုပ်ရကိုင်ရတဲ့ နေရာမှာလည်း အလုပ်မဖြစ်တာတွေ အရမ်းများနိုင်ပါတယ်။ ပြင်ပက လူတွေအနေနဲ့လည်း ဒါဟာ အင်မတန်ကို ရှုပ်ထွေးမယ်၊ ပြီးတော့ အရမ်းကို အကြမ်းဖက်မှုဆန်နိုင်တယ်ဆိုတာကို သတိမူမိဖို့ လိုပါတယ်၊ ပြောရရင်တော့ ဒါဟာ SAC ကြောင့် ဖြစ်လာရတဲ့ ပကတိအမှန်တရားပါပဲ။
ဆိုတော့ ခု ပြောနေကြတာတွေကနေတဆင့် ဖယ်ဒရယ် ဒီမိုကရက်တစ်နိုင်ငံတော်ဆိုတာ ဘယ်လိုပုံစံဖြစ်လာမလဲဆိုတာကို ပုံဖော်ဖို့ရာမှာ ကောင်းမွန်တဲ့ ပြောဆိုဆွေးနွေးမှုတွေ ထပ်ရှိလာလိမ့်မယ်လို့လည်း ကျွန်တော်ထင်ပါတယ်။ ပင့်ကူအိမ်လို ရှုပ်ထွေးပြီး ဆက်စပ်နေတဲ့ အမြင်တွေလည်း ရှိလာပါလိမ့်မယ်။ လက်တွေ့မှာ တိုက်ပွဲဖြစ်ပွားနိုင်မှု ရှိလာနိုင်တဲ့ အဖွဲ့တွေကတောင် NLD အနေနဲ့ မပြောတဲ့ စကားတွေကို ပြောဆိုပေးနေကြတာပဲလေ။ ဒီတော့ လွန်ခဲ့တဲ့ အနှစ်နှစ်ဆယ်ကလို ဒေါ်အောင်ဆန်းစုကြည် နေအိမ်အကျယ်ချုပ်အောက်မှာ နေခဲ့ရတုန်းက ပုံဖော်ခဲ့တဲ့ မြန်မာပြည်လို အနေအထားကနေ လွန်မြောက်အောင် ဆက်သွားနိုင်ဖို့အတွက် ကောင်းတဲ့ အလားအလာပဲလို့ မြင်ပါတယ်၊ သြဇာတိက္ကမ ကြီးမားတဲ့ ခေါင်းဆောင်တစ်ယောက်တည်းရဲ့ အောက်မှာပဲ နေပြီး ပုံဖော်ပြောဆိုနေမှုတွေ၊ ဆွေးနွေးနေမှုတွေဟာ တခုတည်း ရှိနေလို့ ရတာ မဟုတ်ဘူးဆိုတဲ့ အချက်ကို အမှန်တကယ်လက်ခံကြဖို့ပါပဲ။ လူတွေဟာ နိုင်ငံရေးအရ ဘက်ခွဲတာကို ခံခဲ့ကြရတာ၊ တချို့ဆို နိုင်ငံရေးအရ အစွန်းရောက်မှုမျိုးကိုတောင် အလုပ်ခံခဲ့ရတာဆိုတော့ဗျာ အခုအခြေအနေရဲ့ တချို့ အခန်းကဏ္ဍတွေကနေတဆင့် နိုင်ငံရေးအရ နိုးကြားတက်ကြွမှုကို ရလာပြီး၊ ရှေ့ဆက်တည်ဆောက်သွားဖို့အတွက် အကျိုးရှိမယ့်အရာတွေ ရလာကြမှာပါ။
ကျွန်တော်တို့လို နိုင်ငံခြားသားတွေအနေနဲ့ကတော့ ပြည်တွင်းကလူတွေလုပ်နေတဲ့ အလုပ်တွေကို ၀င်မရှုပ်ပဲနဲ့ သူတို့ကို ကူညီလို့ရတဲ့ နည်းလမ်းမှန်သမျှနဲ့ ကူညီနိုင်ဖို့ကိုပဲ ကြိုးစားရမှာပါ။ ဒီလူတွေ ဘာဆက်လုပ်သင့်တယ်၊ မလုပ်သင့်ဘူးဆိုတဲ့ ငြင်းခုံမှုတွေမှာ ဝင်မပါပဲ ပြည်တွင်းကလူတွေရဲ့ တော်လှန်ရေး အောင်မြင်ဖို့အတွက် ရုပ်ပိုင်းဆိုင်ရာ၊ ဘဏ္ဍာရေးပိုင်းဆိုင်ရာနဲ့ သယ်ယူထောက်ပံ့ရေးကိစ္စတွေမှာ လိုအပ်တဲ့ အားပေးကူညီမှုတွေ လုပ်ရမှာပါ။ ကျွန်တော်တို့ ရဲ့ အလုပ်က သူတို့တွေရဲ့ နေရာကို၀င်ပြီး၊ သူတို့မြင်သလို မြင်အောင်၊ နားလည်အောင် ကြိုးစားဖို့ပါပဲ။
ဒါပေမယ့် အပြုသဘောဆောင်တဲ့ မှတ်ချက်လေးနဲ့ ကျွန်တော်အဆုံးသတ်ချင်ပါတယ်။ ထိတ်လန့်ဖွယ်ရာကိစ္စတွေ ကြုံတွေ့ခဲ့ရတယ်ဆိုတာ သံသယဖြစ်စရာမလိုလောက်အောင်ကိုပါပဲ။ အခြေအနေတွေက ရှေ့ဆက်ပြီးလည်း ဆိုးရွားနိုင်ပါတယ်၊ ဒါပေမယ့် မြန်မာနိုင်ငံမှာ လွန်ခဲ့တဲ့ အနှစ်နှစ်ဆယ်အတွင်း အလုပ်လုပ်ခဲ့ဖူးတဲ့ နိုင်ငံခြားသားတွေအနေနဲ့တော့ ကောင်းတာတွေရော၊ ဆိုးတာတွေပါ အများကြီး တွေ့ခဲ့ဖူးမှာပါ။ အခုလို မှောင်မိုက်နေတဲ့ကာလမျိုးမှာတော့ အနေအထားတွေက စိတ်ဓာတ်ကျစရာကောင်းတာပေ့ါဗျာ၊ ဒါပေမယ့် မြန်မာနိုင်ငံရဲ့ အနာဂတ်ဟာ မြန်မာပြည်သူလူထုလက်ထဲမှာပဲ ရှိပါတယ်။ မြန်မာပြည်ရဲ့ အနာဂတ်ကို စီးပွားရေးပိတ်ဆို့မှုတွေ၊ ဖိအားတွေနဲ့ နိုင်ငံတကာ အလှူရှင်တွေက ဖန်တီးမှာမဟုတ်ပါဘူး။ မြန်မာနိုင်ငံရဲ့ အနာဂတ်ကို မြန်မာ့ပြည်သူလူထုကပဲ ဖန်တီးမှာပါ၊ ကျွန်တော့်အတွက်တော့ ဒါဟာ သိပ်ကိုမှ အားကောင်းတဲ့ လွှမ်းမိုးမှုကောင်းဖြစ်စေပါတယ်။
တန်ပြန်ဆန့်ကျင်မှုတွေကိုရော၊ တော်လှန်ရေးကိုရော အောင်မြင်အောင် ကူညီချင်တဲ့ သူတွေအနေနဲ့ကတော့ တကယ် သေးငယ်ပြီး ရိုးသားနှိမ့်ချရာရောက်တဲ့ နည်းလမ်းတွေကိုသုံးပြီးတော့ပဲ တော်လှန်ရေးလုပ်နေတဲ့သူတွေကို ကူညီရပါလိမ့်မယ်။ သူငယ်ချင်းမိတ်ဆွေတွေအနေနဲ့ ရှိပေးတာပဲဖြစ်ဖြစ်၊ ငွေရေးကြေးရေး အကူအညီကို ပေးတာပဲဖြစ်ဖြစ်ပေ့ါဗျာ၊ ကျွန်တော်တို့ တတ်နိုင်တဲ့ နည်းလမ်းနဲ့ ကျွန်တော်တို့ ကူညီရမယ်၊ မြန်မာ့ပြည်သူလူထုကတောင် အရှုံးမပေးပဲ တိုက်နေတာဗျာ၊ ကျွန်တော်တို့က ဘာလို့ အရှုံးပေးရမှာလဲဗျ။
Institute for the Study of Human Rights မှ ဖော်ပြထားသော ဓာတ်ပုံအား ယူသုံးထားပါသည်။
ကိုလံဘီယာတက္ကသိုလ် (Columbia University)တွင် တည်ရှိသော Institute for the Study of Human Rights နှင့် ပက်သတ်၍ ထပ်မံသိရှိလိုပါက ၄င်းတို့၏ Twitter နှင့် Facebook စာမျက်နှာများအား ၀င်ရောက်လေ့လာနိုင်ပါသည်။ ..."
Source/publisher:
Tea Circle (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2021-09-06
Date of entry/update:
2021-09-06
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Human Rights and international relations, Humanitarian assistance - emergencies, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and Burma/Myanmar
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Description:
"This regular update, covering humanitarian developments from 28 July to 23 August, is produced by OCHA Myanmar in collaboration with the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group, UNHCR and WHO. The next update will be issued towards the end of September 2021.
HIGHLIGHTS
• At least 125,000 people have been affected by monsoon floods since 21 July across various regions and states, according to local partners.
• Thousands of people have been displaced following armed clashes between the “People’s Defense Forces” (“PDF”) and Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) in Sagaing Region, according to local partners.
• In Chin State, clashes between the MAF and “PDF” continue in and around Mindat Township.
As of 17 August, close to 16,700 people remain displaced in several townships in the area.
• In the south-eastern parts of the country, an estimated 141,200 people remain displaced, mostly in Kayah and Kayin states, due to clashes and insecurity since 1 February.
• Food insecurity is becoming an evolving concern, with reports of food shortage in displacement sites and communities in northern Shan and Rakhine states.
• In Shan State, population movement remains fluid, with new displacements and returns reported on a regular basis. More than 26,300 people have been displaced across the state since the beginning of 2021; about 6,400 of them remain displaced to date.
• Regular humanitarian programmes and COVID-19 related response continue across various parts of the country, despite access challenges and insecurity.
• As of 27 August, 45 per cent of the US$276.5 million requested under the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), and over 10 per cent of the US$109 million requested under the Interim Emergency Response Plan have been funded, according to the FTS.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
OVER 125,000 PEOPLE AFFECTED BY MONSOON FLOODS: Monsoon floods have been reported across the country since 21 July in a number of states and regions as torrential rains resulted in river overflows. As of midAugust, an estimated 125,000 people have been affected by flooding, mainly in Kachin, Kayin, Mon, Rakhine and eastern areas of Shan states as well as in Mandalay and Tanintharyi regions, according to local partners. There have also been reports of civilian deaths and injury, as well as damage and destruction to houses and other civilian property.
In Kachin State, flash floods and a landslide on 12 August reportedly destroyed at least 15 shelters in Maga Yang camp in Waingmaw Township, which hosts about 1,600 internally displaced people (IDP); one civilian was reportedly killed during the floods. Similarly, several townships in eastern areas of Shan State experienced flash floods and landslides between 11 and 18 August. A local community, three temporary displacement sites and a relocation site in Muse Township, which hosts around 350 displaced families have been affected. Similar incidents took place in Mogoke Township of Mandalay Region in the second week of August, with floods and landslides reportedly killing four persons, including a child, and washing away a number of houses. In Rakhine State, at least 10 villages in Toungup Township have been flooded due to heavy rains on 6 August, affecting some 1,300 houses, a hospital and paddy fields, according to local partners.
Heavy rains and floods have further aggravated an already extremely challenging situation in the south-eastern parts of the country. In Kayin State, at least five townships have been affected.
Another nine townships were affected by floods in Mon State, while in Tanintharyi Region, at least three townships have been affected.
Local humanitarian actors, volunteers and communities responded to the needs of affected families, including with organizing temporary shelter for those who had to be evacuated to safer areas. The floods have also damaged crops, and according to initial assessments, at least 2,000 acres of paddy fields in Kyainseikgyi Township in Kayin State have been impacted, with farmers facing difficulties with seeds and expenses to cover replanting of the paddy.
An additional 40,000 cultivated land has been affected across different states and regions, according to partners.
NEW DISPLACEMENT IN SAGAING REGION: An unconfirmed number of people, reported to be in thousands, have been displaced across at least six townships in Sagaing Region due to clashes between the MAF and the “PDF” and insecurity in recent weeks, according to various sources. The exact number of people displaced, and their current host locations is still difficult to verify due to access challenges, fluidity and the complex nature of the situation. According to initial information, many IDPs are hiding in nearby forests. There had been limited presence of humanitarian personnel in Sagaing Region prior to this worsening situation in the area. Humanitarian partners are making efforts to scale up coordination to assess needs and provide the necessary support to the newly displaced.
VOLATILE SITUATION IN THE SOUTH-EAST: The security situation in south-eastern Myanmar remains volatile, particularly across Kayah and Kayin as well as southern areas of neighbouring Shan State. Sporadic clashes between the MAF and the “Karenni Nationalities Defense Force” (“KNDF”), “PDFs” and “Karen National Liberation Army” (“KNLA”) continue to be reported. In Kayah State, hostilities between the MAF and the “KNDF” have increased up since 3 August in Bawlake, Demoso, Hpasawng, Hpruso and Loikaw townships. In the southern areas of Shan State, clashes between the alliance of “KNDF” with local “PDFs” and the combined forces of the MAF with the “Pa-O National Army” have also been reported in Pekon and Pinlaung townships. In Kayin State, armed clashes, including artillery fire, have been reported between the “KNLA” and the alliance of the MAF with the Border Guard Force (BGF) in Hpapun Township since 1 August. Sporadic small-scale clashes between the MAF and the “KNLA” and “PDFs” have also been reported in Mon State, eastern Bago and Tanintharyi regions.
As of 23 August, UNHCR estimates that 141,200 people remained internally displaced across south-eastern Myanmar as a result of armed clashes and insecurity; this includes 75,300 in Kayah, 17,700 in southern Shan State (South- Pekon and Hsihseng townships), 47,100 in Kayin and 1,100 in Mon states. Population movement in affected areas remains fluid; initial reports indicated at least 4,000 people were newly displaced in Kayah State during the reporting period. Despite intermittent fighting, returns have been observed in Kayah State and Shan State (South) in recent weeks as IDPs did not have access to healthcare in the displacement areas and some of them needed to tend to farming in their areas of origin. Many IDPs were previously sheltered by host families and living in difficult, crowded and make-shift conditions with limited resources. Renewed or recurrent displacements from areas of return can be expected should the security situation deteriorate.
The majority of displaced populations and those otherwise affected by hostilities remain in need food, health care, shelter, WASH and protection services, despite the efforts of operational partners and local communities. UNHCR and partners, for example, have been able to distribute non-food items to around 10,000 individuals in Kayin State and Bago Region since 1 February. Mounting a comprehensive response, however, has been a challenge since the escalation of clashes due to access restrictions, caused by active conflicts, poor road conditions (including as a result of monsoon floods), COVID-19-related travel restrictions and bureaucratic impediments.
CONTINUED VIOLENCE IN AND AROUND MINDAT: The security situation in Chin State remains volatile with renewed and intense fighting reported between the MAF and “PDF” in Falam, Hakha, Matupi, Mindat and Thantlang townships. In Mindat Township, indiscriminate artillery shelling has been reported, which forced an unconfirmed number of people from Shet and Muitui villages as well as surrounding areas to flee to safer locations. The exact locations of people newly displaced and their humanitarian needs could not be identified due to access and communications challenges. As of 17 August, close to 16,700 people remained displaced in several townships in and around Chin State. Despite the volatile security situation, there have also been reports of small-scale returns among the displaced population, with some 2,170 people having returned to Thantlang during the reporting period.
Humanitarian assistance to people who remain displaced and those otherwise affected remains hindered. Food and non-food assistance have been distributed to the IDPs in urban Mindat in recent weeks; however, significant needs still remain, especially in the rural areas of Mindat and other townships in Chin State. This displacement is in addition to some 9,850 people who remain displaced across 27 sites in Paletwa Township in Chin State due to the earlier conflict between the MAF and the “Arakan Army” (“AA”).
FOOD SHORTAGE IN SHAN AND RAKHINE: Food insecurity is becoming an evolving humanitarian concern, with reports of food shortage in displacement sites and communities in northern Shan and Rakhine states. In Kutkai Township in northern Shan, urgent food needs have been reported in five relocation/resettlement sites in Mine Yu Lay Village, which hosts more than 1,000 IDPs since 2013. Similar food needs have been reported in other relocation sites across northern Shan, including Hseni and Kutkai and among local communities in Manton townships, since early August.
In Rakhine State, 900 IDPs in Kan Htaung Gyi displacement site in Myebon Township have been facing food shortage since June. Humanitarian partners reported being unable to deliver food assistance to the site due to access challenges and difficulties withdrawing cash. Food distributions in other displacement sites have also been delayed since July. Shortage of food has also been reported among some 200 IDPs in Bodawmaw Monastery displacement site in Sittwe Township, as well as at the Nyaung Chaung displacement site in Kyauktaw Township.
Despite these challenges, 1.2 million vulnerable people across various parts of Myanmar received food, cash and nutrition assistance since the beginning of 2021.
FLUID POPULATION MOVEMENT IN SHAN STATE: An estimated 4,000 people have reportedly been newly displaced in four townships in the southern and northern areas of Shan State during the reporting period due to armed clashes between the MAF and Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) and among EAOs. In Kyaukme Township in northern areas of Shan State, close to 2,000 people from eight village tracts had fled from their home due to clashes between the “Restoration Council of Shan State” and the alliance of the “Shan State Progress Party” with the “Ta’ang National Liberation Army”; a further 170 people in Man Yang Village Tract in Muse Township were displaced due to clashes between the MAF and the “Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army”. There have also been displacements in Kyethi and Mongkaing townships in southern areas of Shan State.
Meanwhile, IDP returns in areas where the security situation improved continue to be reported. For example, in Kyethi Township, close to 4,200 IDPs were able to return to their villages of origin during the reporting period. There were small-scale returns in other townships during the reporting period. Since the beginning of 2021, about 20,000 people have managed to return out of more than 26,300 persons who have been internally displaced across 15 townships in Shan State..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2021-08-27
Date of entry/update:
2021-08-28
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Burma: Internal displacement/forced migration of several ethnic groups., Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health
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Description:
"The gender profile for humanitarian action in Rakhine, Kachin, and Northern Shan States, Myanmar was first developed in 2018. The profile was based upon collective inputs and consultations with humanitarian and gender stakeholders from national and subnational levels from United Nations, International and National NonGovernmental Organizations (INGOs and NGOs), and Civil Society Organisations, with technical and coordination support from UN Women in partnership with OCHA and UNFPA. The profile has since been updated annually, and in 2021 became a joint endeavour led by the Myanmar Gender in Humanitarian Action (GiHA) Workstream, UNFPA and UN Women.
The purpose of the GiHA profile is to provide a summary overview of the overall context for gender equality and empowerment of women and girls in humanitarian action in Myanmar and to highlight key sector-specific and crosssectional gender issues, needs, gaps, response efforts taken, constraints/challenges to address these, and finally recommend strategic goals and further action needed to strengthen gender mainstreaming. The profile is aligned with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Policy on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Girls in Humanitarian Action (2017) and the IASC Gender in Humanitarian Action Handbook (2018). It serves as a consolidated snapshot of existing datasets, research, analysis, and assessments available.
In 2020 and 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic further complicated the lives of people in humanitarian settings across the country, resulting in significant economic and health impacts. On 1 February, 2021, the Tatmadaw, also known as the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF), seized control over the Government, declaring a year-long state of emergency and detained the country’s top representatives, along with civilian Government officials and prominent civil society members, journalists, as well as countless civilians.
Prior to the coup, humanitarian needs in Myanmar were already vast due to protracted conflict, human rights violations, displacement and natural hazards resulting in 1 million people, of whom 33% women, 19% girls and 18% boys, in need of humanitarian assistance by the 2021 Myanmar Humanitarian Response Plan. This includes 336,000 internally displaced people (of whom 29% are women, 20% girls and 21% boys - overall 70% of displaced). The largest population of persons in need are in Rakhine State with 806,000 people, and the second largest population is across Kachin State with 167,000 people in need. Women make up 53% of those in need of humanitarian assistance in Rakhine, and 48% in Kachin.
UN humanitarian actors in Myanmar have followed events in the country with concern, including reports of arbitrary detentions, arrests, use of excessive force, torture, sexual violence and harassment of protesters. The military coup has deepened humanitarian needs and conflict has intensified in multiple parts of the country, including areas that had not recently seen hostilities and triggering humanitarian needs in areas not previously targeted by humanitarian actors. UNDP has highlighted the compounding negative socio-economic impacts of the pandemic and political crisis, warning that nearly half of Myanmar’s population could be living in poverty by the beginning of 2022, with concerns that women and girls will pay the highest price. Economic disruptions from COVID19 and the consequent economic hardship increased risks of child marriage, while the closure of learning spaces disproportionately affected women’s ability to take up livelihoods as their care burdens increased.
Humanitarian response efforts have faced significant operational challenges including restricted humanitarian access, disruptions to the financial system and resulting cash shortages, heightened safety and security concerns, imposition of martial law in some areas, disruptions to telecommunications, and disruptions to supply chains and logistics. The UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar have reaffirmed the commitment of the UN and its partners to stay and deliver humanitarian assistance and protection services to the affected populations.
The 2021 version of the GiHA profile includes an analysis of the gender-related impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the coup. Principles approaches and continuous community engagement are critical as is careful management of security risks and adaptation to the specificities of local context. Channels for dialogues with the de-facto authorities on safe and unhindered access are being pursued with a focus on areas of most acute need and local dynamics are being carefully observed.
Nevertheless, it is recognized that humanitarian actors in Myanmar are required to obtain travel authorization from de-facto authorities to transport and deliver humanitarian assistance, as well as to obtain relevant approvals for importation and clearance of commodities, including essential and lifesaving medications.
While the sector/cluster specific recommendations remain relevant when programming in the post-February 1 context, there will be a need for regular scanning and reflection on the gendered impact of humanitarian need as well as the impact on modalities and designs to deliver assistance given that the rapidly evolving context requires assistance in new geographical areas potentially with reliance on a smaller pool of partners who have access to affected populations.
Considering these changes in context, Kayin State has been included in the 2021 analysis. Kayin has been affected by decades of armed conflict and multiple waves of displacement and has recently seen significant increases in conflict following the military coup, and therefore capturing and documenting the gendered context for the above crisis areas is critical..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UN Women and United Nations Population Fund via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2021-07-27
Date of entry/update:
2021-07-27
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund), Women's rights
Language:
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1.33 MB (44 pages)
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"HUMANITARIAN NEEDS COUNTRYWIDE: A total of 3 million people are targeted for humanitarian assistance and protection services across various parts of the country. This includes 1 million people in need in conflict-affected areas previously identified and a further 2 million people identified since 1 February.
The additional caseload of 2 million people includes families in urban and peri-urban townships in Yangon and Mandalay, which have seen dramatic increase in humanitarian needs, as well as people newly displaced in conflict-affected areas since 1 February.
An additional US$109 million is requested to address the new needs and complement the existing Humanitarian Response Plan, which seeks $276.5 million in funding.....DISPLACEMENT IN THE SOUTH-EAST: The security situation in southeastern Myanmar remains volatile, with sporadic clashes reported between the MAF and “People’s Defense Forces (PDF)” in Kayah and Mon states, marking an increase in hostilities in recent weeks.
UNHCR estimates around 170,100 people have been internally displaced in southeastern Myanmar due to violence, insecurity and clashes between the MAF, EAOs and “PDF” since 1 February.
This includes 121,400 people displaced in Kayah and neighboring townships in southern Shan since late May, a further 47,600 people displaced in Kayin with another 1,100 displaced in Mon states since 1 February.....DISPLACEMENT IN KACHIN AND SHAN: The security situation in Kachin and Shan states remains volatile, with clashes reported between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) or among the EAOs on a regular basis.
In Kachin, around 11,510 people have been internally displaced since the resurgence of hostilities between the MAF and the “Kachin Independence Army” in mid-March 2021. Over 7,800 of them remain displaced in eight townships.
Around 6,900 people were newly displaced due to various clashes in north and southern areas of Shan State over the course of June. In total, 22,156 people have been internally displaced across Shan State since the start of 2021; about 7,500 people remain displaced in six townships....DISPLACEMENT IN CHIN, CASUALTIES IN RAKHINE: The security situation remains volatile in Chin State with intermittent clashes between the MAF and “PDF” reported in several townships in Chin State, as well as in neighboring Pauk and Saw townships in Magway Region.
About 16,300 people are currently hosted in over 100 displacement sites in five townships in Chin State since May and in Saw Township in Magway and Kale Township in Sagaing regions since June. Meanwhile, almost 9,850 people, displaced by the MAF-Arakan Army conflict, remain in Paletwa Township, Chin State.
In Rakhine, two civilians in Ann Township sustained injuries from a landmine explosion on 10 July. According to UNICEF, 38 civilians have been killed or injured by landmines in Rakhine State in the first five months of 2021, which represents 37 per cent of the total casualties countrywide during this period..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2021-07-16
Date of entry/update:
2021-07-16
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Armed conflict in Burma - attacks on civilians, Burma: Internal displacement/forced migration of several ethnic groups., 2021 Burma/Myanmar coup d'état
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"The Interim Emergency Response Plan has been developed under the leadership of the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) as an operational planning framework to enable prioritized emergency humanitarian response activities beyond the scope of the 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) that was launched in January 2021. The operational plan builds on efforts to date to respond to humanitarian needs arising since 1 February 2021, which have drawn on contingency stocks or reorientation of planned development assistance. The Interim Plan focuses on 1) urban and peri-urban townships in Yangon and Mandalay which have seen dramatic increases in humanitarian needs due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing situation since 1 February; 2) scaling up of emergency response in Kayah State, Chin State, and other areas where clashes have driven large-scale displacement in previously stable areas; and 3) flexible inter-agency rapid response in other areas when new emergency needs related to violence, insecurity, and displacement are identified.
The operating environment across the country has become more challenging in a number of respects. In particular, the volatile security situation and communications and banking disruptions are complicating activities countrywide. Responding in areas with limited pre-existing humanitarian capacity, which are the primary focus of this plan, creates specific challenges and risks that partners are working to address. The Interim Plan, therefore, emphasizes the importance of a cautious and iterative approach, as efforts continue to define needs more clearly, improve information collection and to optimize response approaches. As always, humanitarian response activities will be guided by the internationally recognized principles of neutrality, impartiality, independence, and humanity.
The Interim Plan emphasizes the importance of ensuring inclusive humanitarian response approaches tailored to the needs of particular groups, including women, girls, the elderly and persons with disabilities, who are being impacted by the current situation in different ways. It also highlights the centrality of protection and do-no-harm approaches as humanitarian operations extend into new areas.
The Interim Plan identifies $109 million in emergency humanitarian programming to be implemented until the end of 2021. These requirements are in addition to the $276.5 million requested through the 2021 HRP for ongoing humanitarian efforts in Kachin, northern Shan, Rakhine, southern Chin and Kayin states, and parts of eastern Bago Region. The HCT has emphasized that efforts to mobilize in new locations should not draw capacities or resources away from the conflict-affected settings targeted through the HRP and has noted that needs are growing in many of these locations. The HRP and the Interim Plan are therefore distinct but closely linked and will also be implemented in parallel with the development of complementary planning instruments providing, among other areas, for support for the continuity of Myanmar’s health system. If required, lifesaving activities in the areas covered by the Plan and other locations may need to be integrated into a more expansive 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan..."
Source/publisher:
Humanitarian Country Team in Myanmar and UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2021-07-12
Date of entry/update:
2021-07-13
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Public Health, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Human Rights and international relations
Language:
Format :
pdf
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703.89 KB
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Sub-title:
2020 IN REVIEW MYANMAR HUMANITARIAN FUND AT A GLANCE
Description:
"2020 IN REVIEW
MYANMAR HUMANITARIAN FUND AT A GLANCE
HUMANITARIAN CONTEXT
Humanitarian situation in 2020
The humanitarian situation in Myanmar remained complex over the reporting period. By the end of 2020, the active conflict in Rakhine and parts of Chin states resulted in a cumulative displacement of over 97,000 people in 194 sites. Despite an absence of largescale clashes in Kachin State since mid-2018, close to 96,000 people remained in displacement sites set up after fighting broke out in 2011, of whom roughly 40,000 were in areas controlled by non-state armed actors. The volatile security situation in northern Shan also continued to drive small-scale short-term displacement, with over 8,700 people temporarily displaced over the course of the year. In parts of Kayin State and Bago Region in the southeast, military operations generated additional internal displacement from December, with latest reports indicating up to 5,300 people displaced due the clashes. According to the 2021 Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO), by the end of 2020, more than one million people in Myanmar were in need of some form of humanitarian aid, due to armed conflict, vulnerability to natural hazards, inter-communal tensions or other factors.
COVID-19 pandemic
The outbreak of COVID-19 and subsequent control measures established by the Government created additional challenges in humanitarian settings across the country, and increased the humanitarian caseload, due to urgent humanitarian needs of returning migrants. The rapid increase in locally transmitted COVID-19 cases across the country from mid-August 2020 has further complicated an already challenging humanitarian situation, with Rakhine State emerging as a key epicenter, in addition to Yangon Region, which has seen the largest number of cases. The Government has also put in place strict measures on international and domestic travel and cumbersome processes to obtain visas and entry permits.
People in need
Some 336,000 displaced people (of whom 29 per cent are women, 20 per cent are girls and 21 per cent are boys) remain in camps or displacement sites in Kachin, northern Shan, Rakhine, southern Chin, eastern Bago and Kayin. In addition, an estimated 470,000 non-displaced stateless persons in Rakhine remain in need of various forms of humanitarian support due to significantly reduced access to livelihoods and critical services including education and healthcare caused by movement restrictions, inter-communal tensions and other factors. Other vulnerable persons are the members of host communities, other conflict-affected populations, and persons in the process of pursuing durable solutions to internal displacement.
Severity of needs
While the drivers and underlying factors triggering humanitarian needs have had an impact on all crisis-affected people to varying degrees in Kachin, northern Shan, Rakhine, southern Chin, Kayin and eastern Bago states, specific population groups and locations have been more severely affected than others and this has been factored into the needs analysis process and consequent humanitarian response.
Among the four population groups, internally displaced and stateless persons (in Rakhine) are in general experiencing the highest levels of inter-sectoral needs, with women, girls and other at-risk population groups being disproportionately affected within these categories. There is also a strong correlation between severity of need and levels of armed conflict.
Security and access constraints
The humanitarian crisis was further compounded by the insecure operating environment. A combination of access related constraints continued to impede the ability of humanitarian partners to reach people in need in a timely manner. Following global trends for the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government established strict measures resulting in an extended disruption of humanitarian assistance in Rakhine State in particular. This is in addition to the pre-existing humanitarian access challenges, which remained largely in place, including due to security risks, bureaucratic impediments, blanket bans on eight townships in Rakhine over the course of the year, in addition to continued challenges with access to mobile Internet data in eight townships in Rakhine and Paletwa of Chin states..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2021-07-06
Date of entry/update:
2021-07-11
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Burma: Internal displacement/forced migration of several ethnic groups., The discussion on humanitarian assistance to Burma, Armed conflict in Burma - attacks on civilians
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Format :
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3 MB (Reduce version) - 62 pages
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Sub-title:
A pregnant woman, two infants and three elderly refugees died from lack of medical access, sources say.
Description:
"At least six civilians displaced by conflict in Chin state—a pregnant woman, two infants, and three elderly people—have died from lack of access to medical care since fighting erupted between Myanmar’s military and the Chinland Defense Force (CDF) militia two months ago, sources said Thursday.
The deaths come as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimated 230,000 people have been displaced by fighting and violence this year and efforts to assist them is being hampered by armed clashes and insecurity.
More than 20,000 people were sheltering at 100 displacement areas in Chin state bordering India, while 177,000 people were displaced in Kayah state bordering Thailand, according to OCHA.
A refugee from the war-torn township of Mindat, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisal, told RFA’s Myanmar Service that the six had died in the jungle while fleeing a junta offensive in the area.
“At least six people have died in the jungle due to lack of medicine,” the source said, adding that he was unsure of their names.
“The babies were just a few days old. There are old people [who died]. Some fell from the narrow mountain roads while escaping the fighting. Others died because they could not secure their usual medicine.”
Clashes between the military and the CDF have been raging in the remote township of southern Chin state in Myanmar’s northwest since April 26 and have forced more than 30,000 people to flee to safety, according to aid groups.
A five-point bilateral agreement was reached between the two sides Wednesday to ban armed surveillance and the targeting of civilians in Mindat, end the disruption of government services, cease the use of intimidation or coercion to force Civil Disobedience Movement participants protesting the military’s Feb. 1 coup d’état into returning to work, and lift a blockade of the Kyauktaw-Mindat-Matupi Road to allow the delivery of relief.
A member of the CDF, who also declined to be named, said his group agreed to a ceasefire to alleviate the suffering of those in need of food and medicine, while the military “does not care about the plight of people fleeing the war.”
“I don’t think they did it to show compassion to the people,” he said, adding that the military’s decision to enter the agreement likely stemmed from heavy losses it sustained in nearby Chaungzon township.
“They suffered many casualties around Chaungzon and sent in around 60 more men as reinforcements. I don't know whether they came in to quell riots in other areas or to pressure us, but I’m sure they didn’t call for a ceasefire because they care about the people.”
A CDF spokesman said military troops in the region had been told not to disturb residents or make arrests, adding that he was “monitoring the situation.”
Some of the refugees who were hiding in the jungle to avoid the conflict began returning home in the days leading up to the agreement, relief workers told RFA.
However, they said, access to food and medicine remains a challenge, and many refugees are suffering from illnesses, including seasonal flu and diarrhea, and supplies are desperately needed.
“[The military] questioned people who returned to town and some were arrested,” the worker said, adding that the situation remains tenuous.
“It is still unclear at this time what they will do to people after this. There are no guarantees. And there still is a need for food and medicine for the refugees.”
When transporting supplies for refugees, he said, trucks are required to submit to inspections at multiple checkpoints throughout the area.....Ordering refugees home: On Feb. 1, Myanmar’s military staged a coup, seizing power from Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD), rejecting its landslide victory in November 2020 general elections as the result of voter fraud. The junta has provided no evidence to back up its claims and citizens from all walks of life have protested the takeover.
According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), the military has killed at least 880 people, while some 5,104 people have been detained, charged, or sentenced in the five months since the coup.
Amid nationwide turmoil, the military has stepped up offensives in remote parts of the country of 54 million that have led to fierce battles with a plethora of People’s Defense Force (PDF) militias formed to protect residents from troops loyal to the junta. Ethnic armies in other parts of the nation have used the instability to encroach on one another’s territory.
Sources in eastern Myanmar’s Kayah state told RFA Thursday that the military has been ordering refugees from Demoso township—where fighting between junta troops and a branch of the People’s Defense Force (PDF) militia broke out on May 20—to return home, but that most have relocated to other areas because they fear for their safety.
One person living in a makeshift camp outside of the township told RFA that soldiers had come to the area and told refugees to return to Demoso and that they would only be given protection if they agreed to do so.
“Some villagers moved elsewhere instead of going back,” he said, adding that the others had no plan to return any time soon.
“Even if we want to return, where would we stay? All our houses have been destroyed, totally or in part. [Troops] are still stationed in the villages. They are even stationed in the refugee camp’s medical center and are forcing people in the camps to cook for them.”
Other sources said that a brave few have returned to villages near to the suburbs of Demoso, but only temporarily because of the need to cultivate their fields, noting that even the state capital Loikaw remains dangerous.....Few willing to return:At least 100,000 people have been displaced throughout Kayah state since fighting broke out more than a month ago in Demoso. They account for the lion’s share of the more than a quarter million civilians in seven regions of Myanmar that the United Nations estimates have fled clashes between the military and militias or conflict between ethnic armies in the four months since the junta overthrew the country’s democratically elected government.
The 226,000 displaced in 2021 join more 500,000 refugees from decades of conflict between the government military and ethnic armies who were already counted as internally displaced persons at the end of 2020, according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center, a Norwegian NGO.
Palan, a social worker based in Demoso, told RFA that only around less than one-third of the 100,000 displaced in Kayah state have gone home, while others refuse because they fear the military or have no dwelling to return to.
“I think about 30,000 have returned at present,” he said.
“The main problem is that most of them are now homeless. Almost all the residents of Demoso and about 50 percent of those from Loikaw have no homes now. There are still a lot of soldiers in the villages, as well as in Ngwedaung and Demoso [townships]. That’s why it isn’t easy to go back.”
Bringing rice to Kayah state from neighboring Thailand to help feed the displaced is also nearly impossible because the military has blocked the supply routes, Palan added..."
Source/publisher:
"RFA" (USA)
Date of publication:
2021-06-24
Date of entry/update:
2021-06-25
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Internal displacement/forced migration in Chin State, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Humanitarian assistance - emergencies, Armed conflict in Burma - attacks on civilians, 2021 Burma/Myanmar coup d'état
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Description:
"An estimated 230,000 people have been displaced by fighting in Myanmar and need assistance, the United Nations said on Thursday, as a major armed ethnic group expressed concern about military force, civilian deaths and a widening of the conflict.
Myanmar has been in crisis since a Feb. 1 coup ousted an elected government, prompting nationwide anger that has led to protests, killings and bombings, and battles on several fronts between troops and newly formed civilian armies.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said relief operations were ongoing but were being hindered by armed clashes, violence and insecurity in the country.
It said 177,000 people were displaced in Karen state bordering Thailand, 103,000 in the past month, while more than 20,000 people were sheltering at 100 displacement areas after fighting between People's Defence Forces and the army in Chin State bordering India.
Several thousand people had fled fighting in northern Kachin and Shan States, regions with established ethnic minority armies with a long history of hostilities with the military.
The Karen National Union (KNU), one of Myanmar's oldest ethnic minority groups, said it was worried about the military's excessive use of force and the loss of innocent civilian lives as fighting intensifies all over the country.
"The KNU will continue to fight against military dictatorship and provide as much protection as possible to people and unarmed civilians," it said in a statement.
The military says it seized power to protect democracy because its complaints of fraud in a November election won by Aung San Suu Kyi's ruling party were ignored.....PROTESTS: Anti-junta protests took place in Kachin State, Dawei, Sagaing Region and the commercial capital Yangon on Thursday, with demonstrators carrying banners and making three-finger gestures of defiance.
Some showed support for those resisting military rule in Mandalay, the second-biggest city, where a firefight took place between the army and a newly formed guerrilla group on Tuesday, the first sign of armed clashes in a major urban centre since the coup.
The military-owned Myawaddy Television said four members of the militia were arrested on Thursday, describing them as "terrorists".
At least 877 people have been killed by security forces and more than 6,000 arrested since the coup, according to the Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), an advocacy group which the junta has declared an illegal organisation.
A diplomatic effort by Southeast Asian countries to halt the violence and initiate dialogue between all sides has stalled and the generals say they will stick to their plan of restoring order and holding elections in two years.
In its nightly news bulletin, state-run MRTV reported on the visit of junta leader Min Aung Hlaing to Russia, where a military university named him an honorary professor.
Unlike most global powers, Russia has embraced the junta and the country has long been a key source of Myanmar's weaponry. His visit comes amid international pressure on countries not to sell arms to the military or do business with its vast network of companies.
State media on Thursday carried excerpts from a speech in Russia by Min Aung Hlaing in which he said it was necessary for countries to avoid encroaching on another country's sovereignty.
"Myanmar is striving for restoring political peace and stability," it quoted him saying. "The current government is focusing on the reappearance of honesty over democracy."..."
Source/publisher:
"Reuters" (UK)
Date of publication:
2021-06-24
Date of entry/update:
2021-06-25
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma: Internal displacement/forced migration of several ethnic groups., Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Armed conflict in Burma - attacks on civilians, Human Rights and international relations, 2021 Burma/Myanmar coup d'état
Language:
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Description:
"• An estimated 177,500 people have been displaced in southeastern parts of Myanmar due to violence, armed clashes and insecurity since 1 February. This includes around 103,500 people displaced in Kayah State following an escalation of clashes since 21 May.
• In Chin State, clashes between the Chinland Defence Forces (CDF) and Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) continued across a number of townships until early June and more than 20,000 people are currently hosted in over 100 displacement sites in five townships in Chin State, one in Magway and another in Sagaing regions.
• In Kachin State, the displacement of 2,000 people has been verified in two townships. A total of 11,650 people have been internally displaced across Kachin since mid-March 2021; more than 10,200 of them remain displaced to date.
• Armed clashes were reported for the first time in Kyethi and Mongkaing townships in southern areas of Shan State in 2021, leading to the displacement of an estimated 1,660 people in June. Since the start of 2021, around 17,730 people have been internally displaced across 14 townships in north and southern parts of Shan State.
• The security situation across Rakhine remains relatively calm and despite a lull in hostilities since November 2020, thousands of displaced people who remain in camps and sites are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and protection services.
• The Myanmar Humanitarian Fund (MHF) First Standard Allocation will disburse US$12.1 million ($1.8 million increase from the initial strategy) to enable partners to strengthen the response in line with the 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). The allocation will also target additional life-saving activities to address the emerging humanitarian needs in other areas. The HRP, which seeks US$276.5 million remains only 21 per cent funded..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2021-06-24
Date of entry/update:
2021-06-24
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Public Health, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, The discussion on humanitarian assistance to Burma, Burma: Internal displacement/forced migration of several ethnic groups.
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" South Korea has provided $900,000 to a U.N.-led humanitarian aid initiative for Myanmar, U.N. data showed on Thursday.
A spokesman for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said earlier data on its financial tracking service showing a contribution of $300,000 by North Korea was wrong and it has since been corrected.
The contribution on May 24 to the Myanmar Humanitarian Fund came from South Korea in addition to a separate contribution of $600,000, Asia Pacific head of communications for the Office Pierre Peron said.
The fund calls for some $276 million to help Myanmar, where hundreds of people have died since the military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February and began a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests, adding to the country's struggle with the coronavirus pandemic.
While continuing to provide aid, South Korea has suspended defence exchanges and banned exports of arms and other strategic items to the Southeast Asian country. read more
(Corrects story throughout to show South Korea, not North Korea, made the donation.)..."
Source/publisher:
"Reuters" (UK)
Date of publication:
2021-06-17
Date of entry/update:
2021-06-18
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
South Korea-Burma relations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Human Rights and international relations, 2021 Burma/Myanmar coup d'état
Language:
more
Description:
"The security situation in certain parts of Chin State remains tense, with hostilities between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and the Chinland Defence Force (CDF) reported regularly in Hakha, Kanpetlet, Mindat, Matupi and Thantlang townships, as well as in neighboring townships in Magway Region. According to local partners, an estimated 820 people in Thantlang Township fled to nearby jungles on 11 June due to the hostilities and are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance. Over 18,000 people are currently hosted in 74 displacement sites in Mindat, Kanpetlet, Hakha, Matupi and Thantlang townships in Chin state since 12 May and in Saw Township in Magway Region since 6 June. This is in addition to reports of people, believed to be in the thousands, who fled violence to forests and mountainous areas since 12 May. Humanitarian partners are making every effort to respond to the needs of people who fled and those who remain in affected areas; however, access restrictions are complicating these efforts. Chin State is already hosting 9,850 people across 27 displacement sites in Paletwa due to the MAF and the Arakan Army conflict between January 2019 and November 2020..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2021-06-15
Date of entry/update:
2021-06-16
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Burma: Internal displacement/forced migration of several ethnic groups., Humanitarian assistance - emergencies, 2021 Burma/Myanmar coup d'état
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1.78 MB
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Sub-title:
The move was announced on Tuesday following talks with military officials and religious leaders
Description:
"Karenni resistance forces announced the suspension of attacks on regime troops in northern Kayah (Karenni) and southern Shan states on Tuesday amid a growing crisis facing displaced civilians in the region.
The Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF), a coalition of anti-junta forces formed on May 31, made the decision following talks with military and religious leaders late last week.
The move comes as the number of civilians displaced by the nearly month-old conflict has surpassed 100,000, according to the United Nations human rights agency OHCHR.
The KNDF consists of civilians from Loikaw, Demoso, and Nan Mei Khon in Kayah State and Moebye and Pekhon in southern Shan State, as well as ethnic armed forces based in the region.
The KNDF did not specify how long its ceasefire would last, but said it would continue to oppose the military junta in various ways. It also urged people to be united, prepared and cautious.
On June 11, representatives of three Karenni armed groups involved in the KNDP met with army personnel from the Eastern Command and Christian religious leaders in Taunggyi, Shan State, to discuss the ongoing situation.
The armed groups that attended the meeting were reportedly the Kayan New Land Party, the Karenni National People's Liberation Front, and the Karenni National Peace and Development Party.
“The armed groups talked to the military council about the armed conflict. Our religious groups mainly discussed allowing humanitarian channels for displaced people,” a Catholic priest from Loikaw told Myanmar Now.
The church, which has taken a leading role in efforts to mitigate harm to civilians caught in the conflict, has also been a target of attacks, with at least eight churches damaged or destroyed by the military since fighting began.
Religious leaders demanded that relief workers be allowed to transport food and other supplies safely and without hindrance.
“The commander said he would consider measures for the displaced people. The people are in real trouble. Living in the jungle during the rainy season is very difficult. The elderly and children are especially vulnerable,” the priest said.
During the meeting, no agreement was reached to guarantee the security of displaced locals, but the situation is likely to be more stable than before, he added.
“I haven’t heard any gunfire for a day or two since the meeting,” he said, noting that some civilians have also returned to their homes in recent days.
“But people are still very worried. There’s a ceasefire, but they don’t know how long it will last. They’re worried that troops will come and arrest them at night if they return. They are still in so much fear.”
Some residents who returned to Demoso on Tuesday discovered that their homes had been destroyed during the clashes, according to local sources.
The military has used heavy artillery and airstrikes against local anti-regime resistance forces since clashes began in the area in late May.
In addition to killing numerous civilians in these attacks, the military has also imposed restrictions on the transport of food, fuel and other essential commodities into Kayah State since May 28, creating widespread shortages of basic necessities.
On June 11, the day that a six-day-old boy died of a cold while his family was fleeing from clashes in Pekhon Township, the military set fire to an ambulance and vehicles carrying food and medical supplies for displaced people in the township.
In an article published by a state-run newspaper, the regime claimed that it had merely seized supplies from “terrorists”..."
Source/publisher:
"Myanmar Now" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2021-06-16
Date of entry/update:
2021-06-16
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Internal displacement/forced migration of Karenni villagers, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Human Rights and international relations, 2021 Burma/Myanmar coup d'état
Language:
more
Description:
"An estimated 151,000 people in southeastern parts of the country have been internally displaced by insecurity and armed conflict between various parties as of 31 May. In Kayah State, between 85,000 to 100,000 people are estimated to have been displaced by ongoing hostilities between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and the Karenni Army as well as the Karenni People's Defence Force. Fighting in the area continues to escalate with airstrikes and indiscriminate shelling reported. The majority of the displaced people are concentrated in Demoso, Hpruso and Loikaw townships in Kayah State as well as Hsiseng and Pekon townships in southern Shan State, according to UNHCR. The displacement in Kayah State is in addition to 51,200 people who had been displaced in the south-east, over 47,300 people in Kayin State, with a further 3,900 in parts of Mon State and eastern Bago Region, since 1 February due to insecurity and clashes between the MAF and the Karen National Liberation Army. The humanitarian impact of hostilities in the region remains severe, with people displaced and those who remain in areas affected across the south-eastern parts of the country in urgent need of food, shelter, medicine, water as well as sanitation services. Humanitarian access to people in need is constrained by insecurity, road blockages, landmine risks and lengthy or unclear approval processes. As needs grow, the capacities of local partners are increasingly stretched and require additional financial support. Despite the challenges, operational partners are responding to needs where possible. During the reporting period, a small number of families displaced across several townships in Kayah State, Kayin State, and eastern parts of Bago Region received shelter and emergency kits, hygiene assistance, and basic medical supplies. The partners will continue to explore all possible options to respond to the needs of people displaced and everyone affected..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2021-06-01
Date of entry/update:
2021-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations, Armed conflict in Burma - attacks on civilians, Burma: Internal displacement/forced migration of several ethnic groups., Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
1.9 MB
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Description:
"This regular update, covering humanitarian developments in conflict-affected areas from 24 April to 24 May, is produced by OCHA Myanmar in collaboration with the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group and UNHCR. The next update will be issued towards the end of June 2021.....HIGHLIGHTS: Around 46,000 people were displaced in the south-eastern part of Myanmar between April and May due to the conflict and insecurity, about 37,000 of them displaced in late May following the clashes in Kayah State.
In Chin State, thousands have been internally displaced following an escalation of hostilities in the town of Mindat since 12 May.
In northern Shan, clashes between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) and among EAOs continue and around 2,800 people were displaced in May. A total of 8,400 people who have fled since January 2021 remain displaced.
In Kachin State, there has been no new displacement during the reporting period, despite the active armed conflict between the MAF and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA); about 8,500 people who fled insecurity since mid-March remain displaced.
No new population displacement has been reported in Rakhine State. Cases of acute watery diarrhea (AWD) are reported in IDP camps in Mrauk-U, Paukaw and Sittwe townships.
Humanitarian response remains severely constrained in all conflict-affected areas due to insecurity, banking disruptions, road blockages and pre-existing access challenges.
Myanmar Humanitarian Fund First Standard Allocation of US$10 million launched on 13 May has been amended with an additional $0.35 million to scale up response in Chin State.
A total of US$40.2 million has been mobilized under the 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan, which seeks $276.5 million to address the needs of around 1 million people in conflict-affected areas. This represents less than 15 per cent of the funds required.
KEY FIGURES
85.9K people internally displaced in the South-east due to clashes and insecurity in 2021
15K people internally displaced in northern Shan due to armed clashes in 2021
10K people internally displaced in Kachin State due to armed clashes in 2021
10K people hosted in sites in Chin State and Magway Region due to hostilities in Mindat in May
SITUATION OVERVIEW
UPSURGE IN DISPLACEMENT IN THE SOUTH-EAST: Around 46,000 people were displaced in the southeastern part of the country between April and May, according to data obtained by UNHCR from various sources. This includes the displacement of an estimated 37,000 persons across 57 locations in Kayah State where violence had erupted in late May between the MAF and the Karenni Army, the armed wing of the Karenni National Progressive Party, as well as the Karenni People’s Defense Force, an armed group formed by civilian resistance fighters.
There have been additional displacements, mainly in Kayin State due to insecurity and the clashes between the Karen National Liberation Army and the MAF. Around 45,000 people are currently internally displaced in Kayin State. The majority of them are hiding in jungles with some 8,000 sheltering in caves along Salween River at the border with Thailand. A further 3,900 people remain displaced in Mon State and Bago Region since February. This makes 85,900 the total number of people who have been internally displaced in the region due to armed clashes as well as insecurity as of 24 May.
The internal displacement comes in addition to cross-border movement that remains fluid. Around 7,000 people from Kayin State have crossed the border to seek safety in Thailand since late March and some 1,000 remain in temporary areas in Mae Hong Son Province in Thailand as of 23 May, according to UNHCR.
Humanitarian needs include food, shelter and access to hygiene and sanitation facilities. Additionally, there have been reports of cases of water-borne diseases among the displaced population in the jungle as result of extended lack of access to hygiene and sanitation facilities compounded by the early arrival of the rainy season. Local sources warn of a looming food security crisis if people are unable to return to their villages of origin to tend to their crops and livestock.
Humanitarian partners are doing their best to respond to these needs, both within Myanmar and across the border. For example, in Kayah State, partners provided food and basic households items, child protection and health interventions to a small number of IDPs. However, access restrictions due to insecurity, road blockages, remote terrain, landmine contamination and other bureaucratic impediments continue to impede programme delivery across Kayah and elsewhere.
INCREASING HUMANITARIAN NEEDS IN CHIN STATE: Thousands of people have been displaced following an escalation of violence between the MAF and the Chinland Defense Forces (CDF) in and around the town of Mindat in Chin State on 12 May. The MAF deployed heavy artillery, military helicopters and snipers to the area, and despite the reported retreat of the CDF the following day, the MAF reportedly continued its attacks, including against civilian areas and infrastructure in the town of Mindat, which is home to about 25,000 people (2014 data).
Over 9,000 IDPs are currently hosted in 16 sites, mainly in churches and monasteries, in and around Mindat and 7 sites in Saw in Magway Region. Thousands more had reportedly fled to nearby forests and mountains in search of safety and protection. There are also reports of civilian casualties, damage to and occupation of civilian infrastructure, incidents of the MAF using civilians as human shields and alleged cases of sexual assault against women and girls. Clashes also occurred between the MAF and the CDF in Loklung Village near the capital city of Hakkha on 18 May. This has led to the displacement of around 1,000 people to neighboring villages, according to local partners.
The displaced population and those who remain in town are in urgent need of food, water, medicine, shelter and protection services, such as gender-based violence and psychological support. Local communities and religious institutions are making efforts to provide humanitarian assistance; however, this is not reaching everyone in need. Access restrictions, including due to road blockages and insecurity, are complicating the efforts to verify the reports of displacement, casualties and other incidents, as well as assess needs and respond. The Myanmar Humanitarian Fund (MHF) is supporting an operational partner in Chin State to scale up response, by topping up with an additional funding an existing humanitarian programme.
MORE PEOPLE DISPLACED IN NORTHERN SHAN: Population movement remains fluid in northern areas of Shan State with new displacements and small-scale returns reported on a regular basis. In Hsipaw Township, around 2,510 people fled from their homes to safe areas due to hostilities between the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army and the allied forces of the Ta'ang National Liberation Army and the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army on 18 May. Small-scale population movements were also reported in Nawnghkio and Namtu townships and over the course of May, 2,800 people were internally displaced due to various clashes. A total of 15,151 people have been internally displaced in northern Shan since the start of 2021. While almost half of them returned to their places of origin within weeks, some 8,400 people remain displaced in 34 sites in Hsipaw, Kyaukme, Momeik, Namtu, Namhkan and Nawghkio townships. The IDPs are unable to return due to damage to their property and livelihoods as well as insecurity and risks from landmine contamination.
Humanitarian partners organized three missions to the displacement sites and protracted IDP camps over the course of May to assess people’s needs and strengthen response coordination. Despite some assistance provided by host communities and local partners, the needs of families newly displaced remain largely unmet. The IDPs currently require temporary shelter, food, basic household materials, including mosquito nets, blankets, and mats, as well as access to water and sanitation facilities.
NO NEW DISPLACEMENT IN KACHIN DESPITE INSECURITY: There has been no new population displacement in Kachin during the reporting period. Close to 10,000 people have been displaced across Kachin State following the resumption of clashes in mid-March. While many have returned to their places of origin since then, over 8,500 people remain displaced in Bhamo, Hpakant, Injanyang, Momauk, Myitkyina, Sadung, Shwegu and Waingmaw townships. Local communities and operational partners are responding to the needs of newly displaced people; however, access challenges and insecurity are complicating these efforts.
The security situation remains volatile in Kachin State, with regular armed clashes between the MAF and the KIA in several townships and general insecurity across the state. Hostilities were reported across as many as 13 townships; however, clashes were intense in Momauk Township in particular, where fighting around the Ah Law Bum mountain area, currently controlled by the KIA continues unabated, with reports of aerial strikes by the MAF and artillery shelling by both sides. Since March, over 100 armed engagements were reported across Kachin. According to public sources, 11 civilians were killed and 22 others injured between 11 March and 12 May. The details of these incidents could not be verified at the time of reporting due to access challenges.
ACUTE WATERY DIARRHEA IN CENTRAL RAKHINE: AWD cases were reported in IDP camps in MraukU, Pauktaw and Sittwe townships with majority of cases affecting children under five. Based on available information, the cases were reported to be highest during the week of 3 May, with 1,200 cases, and majority reported from six IDP camps. Over 2,000 cases of AWD have so far been reported as of 25 May. The situation has started to stabilize as the number of cases started to go down since 16 May, following robust response by operational partners who are coordination with relevant entities to scale up awareness raising efforts of good hygiene, testing of water quality, chlorination of the boreholes, and cleaning of solid waste and disinfection of latrines. Disease surveillance is ongoing and operational hours of mobile clinics have been extended in certain camps with larger caseloads. Case investigation and laboratory sample collection were also conducted with relevant entities and findings were directly shared to frontline health partners for appropriate clinical management.
NO NEW DIPLACEMENT IN RAKHINE: There has not been any new clashes between the MAF and the AA since November 2020 and no new displacement has been reported. Some small-scale returns among IDPs continue to take place in a number of townships. Close to 82,000 people remain displaced at 147 sites and 27 host communities in 10 townships across Rakhine State. This is in addition to 126,000 IDPs hosted in protracted camps established in 2012..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2021-05-27
Date of entry/update:
2021-05-28
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma: Internal displacement/forced migration of several ethnic groups., Internal displacement/forced migration of Shan. Palaung and Wa villagers, Internal displacement/forced migration of Kachin, Internal displacement/forced migration of Karen villagers, Humanitarian assistance - emergencies, Various groups, Food Security and nutrition in Burma/Myanmar, Education in Burma/Myanmar - general, Public Health, Human Rights and international relations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
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Sub-title:
Thai government instructed authorities to block refugees from Myanmar
Description:
"The Government of Thailand should protect refugees from Myanmar from being forcibly returned and establish protection mechanisms in line with international human rights law, Fortify Rights said today. On March 19, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha instructed government agencies to prevent “illegal immigration” from Myanmar, according to government meeting minutes. In line with this order, a Thai provincial official confirmed to Fortify Rights that Thai authorities this week returned to Myanmar at least 2,000 refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar’s Karen State.
“The Thai government should be preparing to protect refugees rather than prevent border crossings,” said Amy Smith, Executive Director at Fortify Rights. “Thailand has made positive commitments and taken steps to establish procedures to recognize and protect refugees during the past several years. Now is the time for Thailand to put those commitments into action to protect refugees fleeing the ongoing crisis in Myanmar.”
According to meeting minutes of the Thai Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), dated March 19, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha instructed the Ministry of Interior, CCSA, and other concerned agencies to “monitor and prevent illegal immigration” along the Thailand-Myanmar border and instructed the Immigration Bureau to “enforce strict inspection of border crossings.” The government has also deployed Royal Thai Army troops and patrol boats to “monitor illegal entry along the western borders both by land and sea,” according to the meeting minutes.
The Thai Government does not recognize refugees and considers undocumented or unauthorized entry or stay in Thailand as “illegal immigration.”
A Thai government official speaking on the condition of anonymity told Fortify Rights that the Ministry of Defense is responsible for coordinating the government’s response to refugees from Myanmar. Among those responsible for this coordination is the Naresuan Force of the Royal Thai Army. The Naresuan Force is a special unit designated to protect the borders of Tak and Mae Hong Son provinces by “interception, retaliation and pushing back foreign forces deemed to violate Thai sovereignty.”
The Naresuan Force held more than 2,100 refugees in makeshift shelters in Mae Sariang District of Mae Hong Son Province after they crossed into Thailand last week to flee attacks in Myanmar. Less than 100 remain in Thailand as of May 11, according to a Thai provincial official.
Civil society actors in Karen State told Fortify Rights that Thai authorities also forced back to Myanmar most of the 5,000 refugees who crossed into Thailand in March and April.
The official also confirmed that the army continues to restrict humanitarian organizations and U.N. agencies, including the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), from accessing groups of newly arriving refugees from Myanmar, citing security and COVID-19 health concerns.
“Ensuring protections for refugees is first and foremost a humanitarian issue that demands an appropriate response from the Thai authorities to prevent the loss of life,” said Amy Smith. “Public health concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic and national security can be addressed and managed through proper screening mechanisms. Rather than restrict and sideline U.N. and humanitarian organizations who are ready to assist, Thai authorities should draw on their technical expertise and resources to facilitate a coordinated response.”
According to the Thai government’s meeting minutes, the prime minister called for “effort” to be made to “prepare an area to host the influx of migrants into Thailand, quarantine facilities and field hospitals.” However, the Thai authorities have yet to announce the construction of facilities for refugees or that refugees will be provided access to quarantine or medical facilities.
On May 6, Thai officials, including Mae Hong Son Governor Sithichai Jindaluang, the Commander of the Special Unit 7thInfantry Regiment, Colonel Sujin Subsin, and Permanent Secretary of Mae Hong Son Province Chanathip Semyam met with UNHCR-Thailand to discuss potential refugee influxes into Thailand and responses. At the time of writing, Thai authorities have yet to approve UNHCR operations to assist new refugees from Myanmar.
UNHCR’s Key Legal Considerations on Access to Territory for Persons in Need of International Protection in the Context of the COVID-19 Response provides that “[d]enial of access to territory without safeguards to protect against refoulement cannot be justified on the grounds of any health risk.”
Myanmar military attacks on civilian areas and clashes between the Myanmar military and ethnic armed groups have displaced more than 55,000 people in Kachin, Karen, and Shan states in Myanmar since February 1 , according to the latest figures from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Myanmar. A majority of the displaced, approximately 40,000, were forcibly displaced following renewed clashes between the Myanmar military and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), as well as airstrikes, “indiscriminate attacks,” and “shelling of civilian areas” by the Myanmar military, according to OCHA Myanmar.
Since taking power in a military coup d’état on February 1, the Myanmar junta has continued to kill, arbitrarily arrest, and commit other crimes against political leaders, human rights defenders, peaceful protesters, and others in Myanmar. In a document seen by Fortify Rights and provided by the Myanmar junta to members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ahead of a controversial summit to discuss Myanmar last month, the junta claimed that it detained 9,848 persons, released 4,511, and charged 5,070 between February 1 and April 15.
Forcing refugees back to Myanmar violates the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the “rejection at the frontier, interception and indirect refoulement” of individuals at risk of persecution. While Thailand has not ratified the 1951 U.N. Refugee Convention nor its 1967 Protocol, the principle of non-refoulement is part of customary international law and is therefore binding on all states. Under this principle, all countries are obligated to protect people from being returned to where they face danger or persecution, including through informal returns.
The Thai government has repeatedly expressed a commitment to protect refugees, including by adopting the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration and endorsing the Global Compact on Refugees during the U.N. General Assembly in December 2018. The Thai government also affirmed a commitment to “humanitarianism and to take care of various groups of irregular migrants” during the U.N. Human Rights Committee review of Thailand’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in March 2017.
On December 24, 2019, the Thai Cabinet endorsed regulations to establish a national screening mechanism to identify and potentially protect refugees. However, the mechanism has yet to be implemented and has come under criticism from human rights groups for failing to meet international standards.
Thailand currently hosts more than 100,000 refugees, most of whom are protracted refugees from Myanmar living in temporary shelters along the Thailand-Myanmar border, as well as refugees from various countries living in Bangkok and surrounding provinces. All refugees in Thailand lack formal legal status and are at risk of arbitrary detention and being forcibly returned to countries where they may face persecution.
“Thailand still views refugees primarily through a national security lens, but the only real threat to regional peace and security is the Myanmar junta,” said Amy Smith. “If Thailand wants to protect its own security, it should protect the people of Myanmar and work with the international community to deprive the junta of its weapons and financial resources..."
Source/publisher:
"Fortify Rights"
Date of publication:
2021-05-12
Date of entry/update:
2021-05-13
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Human Rights and international relations, Thailand-Burma relations, UNHCR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UN System humanitarian assistance, Political prisoners and other violations in Burma - reports, Human Rights Defenders, Racial or ethnic discrimination in Burma: reports of violations against several groups, 2021 Burma/Myanmar coup d'état
Language:
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Topic:
Agriculture, Health, Protection and Human Rights
Topic:
Agriculture, Health, Protection and Human Rights
Description:
"In northern Shan, armed clashes between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and various ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) or amongst EAOs continue across a number of townships, resulting in population displacement and civilian casualties. In Kutkai Township, four civilians were injured on 4 May due to clashes between the MAF and the allied forces of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), according to local reports. Hostilities in the area reportedly damaged a number of houses and livestock, leaving those affected in need of shelter and livelihoods support. In Hsipaw Township, armed confrontations between the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army and the TNLA displaced around 310 people between 2-3 May. Since January 2021, a total of 12,280 people have been internally displaced in at least nine townships across northern Shan. Almost half of them already returned to their places of origin; the other half is hosted in more than 30 sites, mainly in Hsipaw, Kyaukme and Namtu townships. Humanitarian actors are making all efforts to address the immediate needs of displaced families - which include shelter, basic household items, access to healthcare, water and sanitation and food - but access and insecurity continue to hinder these operations.³..."
Source/publisher:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication:
2021-05-11
Date of entry/update:
2021-05-12
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UN System humanitarian assistance, Burma: Internal displacement/forced migration of several ethnic groups., Food Security and displacement in Burma, Food Security and human rights in Burma, Food Security in Shan State
Language:
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pdf
Size:
1.89 MB
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Description:
"There are currently about 8,800 displaced people residing in camps or settlements in the northern part of Shan State as a result of the armed conflict that resumed and has continued since 2011. Continued armed conflict has led to multiple cases of new short-term displacement. Between January 2018 and November 2019, over 46,000 people were displaced by fighting in 14 different townships. In most cases this was short-term displacement, with people returning to their place of origin after a few weeks or months. Ongoing insecurity and resulting access restrictions continue to hinder the provision of humanitarian protection and assistance to displaced people in need in the area...၂၀၁၁ တွင် ပြန်လည်အစပြုပြီး ဆက်လက်ဖြစ်ပေါ်လျက်ရှိသော လက်နက်ကိုင် ပဋိပက္ခများကြောင့်
ရှမ်းပြည်နယ်မြောက်ပိုင်းရှိ စခန်းများနှင့် အခြေချရာ ကျေးရွာများတွင် နေထိုင်နေရသော နေရပ်စွန့်ခွာရသူ
လူဦးရေ ၈၈၀၀ ခန့် ရှိနေပြီဖြစ်သည်။ လက်နက်ကိုင် ပဋိပက္ခများ ဆက်လက် ဖြစ်ပေါ်နေခြင်းကြောင့်
ကာလတို နေရပ်စွန့်ခွာရမှုများလည်း အများအပြား ဖြစ်ပွားလျက်ရှိသည်။ ဇန်နဝါရီ ၂၀၁၈ နှင့်
နိုဝင်ဘာ ၂၀၁၉ ကြားတွင် မြို့နယ် ၁၄ ခုအတွင်း တိုက်ပွဲများဖြစ်ပွားခဲ့ခြင်းကြောင့် လူဦးရေ
၄၆၀၀၀ ကျော် နေရပ်စွန့်ခွာရလျက်ရှိသည်။ များသောအားဖြင့် ဤနေရပ်စွန့်ခွာရမှုများမှာ
ခေတ္တသာဖြစ်ပြီး ရက်သတ္တပတ် အနည်းငယ် သို့မဟုတ် လအနည်းငယ်အတွင်းမှာပင်
နေရပ်ပြန်နိုင်ကြသည်။ လုံခြုံမှုအားနည်းနေဆဲအခြေအနေများနှင့် ဖြစ်ပေါ်လာသော သွားလာခွင့်
ကန့်သတ်ချက်များကြောင့် ၎င်းနယ်မြေရှိ လိုအပ်နေသော နေရပ်စွန့်ခွာသူများအား လူသားချင်း
စာနာမှုဆိုင်ရာ အကာအကွယ်နှင့် အကူအညီများပေးရန် နှောင့်နှေးကြန့်ကြာလျက်ရှိသည်။..."
Source/publisher:
OCHA (New York) via Reliefweb (New York)
Date of publication:
2019-11-25
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-26
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Internal displacement/forced migration of Shan. Palaung and Wa villagers
Language:
Format :
pdf pdf
Size:
418.24 KB 431.26 KB
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