Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Country: Myanmar
13 August 2012: Intercommunity conflict across Rakhine State, Myanmar, erupted in June 2012.
The violence prompted the massive displacement of some 65,000 people; damage to public
infrastructure and homes; and the loss of lives and livelihoods.
Since the conflict began, the Government has provided assistance to internally displaced persons
(IDPs) in Sittwe and Maungdaw Townships, including food, shelter, non-food items and medical
supplies. Following an assessment mission, humanitarian partners developed a comprehensive
response plan, which estimates that up to 80,000 people will require relief assistance. They
include IDPs and the most vulnerable people living in host communities.
Humanitarian agencies are particularly concerned about the nutritional situation. The majority of
IDPs are heavily reliant on food aid from the Government, humanitarian partners and religious
organizations. With low levels of domestic food stocks in camps, delivery of food assistance will
still be needed. Although no major disease outbreaks have been recorded so far, there were
reports of an increasing number of diarrhoea cases in IDP camps. Water, sanitation and hygiene
issues continue to be a major concern, as monsoon rains worsened the already poor sanitation
conditions in IDP camps.
Partners are redoubling efforts and using available resources to respond to affected people’s
needs, but more support is required to provide critical life-saving interventions. In response, the
United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) provided US$4,867,656 in grants to five
UN agencies to provide aid to the most vulnerable people.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) received $2.8 million to provide shelter, non-food items and
protection support to more than 10,000 people. The World Food Programme (WFP) received $1
million to provide emergency food assistance to 70,000 people. Some $938,000 was given to the
UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for four projects to treat children with severe acute malnutrition,
and to prevent micronutrient deficiencies among children and breastfeeding women. To address
IDPs’ priority health needs, the World Health Organization (WHO) received a $89,827 grant. To
support the reproductive health needs of more than 45,000 people, the UN Population Fund
(UNFPA) received $9,630.
For more information about CERF, visit: www.unocha.org/cerf