Humanitarian Bulletin Myanmar, Issue 5 | 1 – 31 May 2014 [EN/MY]

HIGHLIGHTS

• Improvements in access to healthcare for displaced people, but many vulnerable communities remain under-served

• Humanitarian organizations in Rakhine take measures to strengthen their accountability to affected people

• Hundreds of people displaced as tensions in Kachin and northern Shan continue

• Displaced families are resettled in Myitkyina

Key FIGURES

People targeted for humanitarian assistance in Rakhine State

IDPs* 137,000 Food insecure people 70,000 People in isolated villages 50,000 People in host communities 50,000

People targeted for humanitarian assistance in Kachin and northern Shan states

IDPs* 98,000 People in host communities 20,000

Humanitarian operations continue to scale up in Rakhine following disruptions in March/April

Humanitarian organizations continued to scale up operations in May following severe disruptions due to attacks on UN and international NGO (INGO) premises in Sittwe, Rakhine State, at the end of March. However, many organizations are still operating at reduced capacity, with only 60 per cent of UN and INGO staff having been able to return to Sittwe by the end of May. The main constraint is the limited offices and premises available for the UN and INGOs in the “Southern Quarter” of Sittwe, a designated area where humanitarian organizations have been told they have to have their premises and where the Government is providing additional security. Approximately 100 staff are still looking for accommodation, while office space is required for an additional 80 staff. Two INGOs, MSF Holland (MSF-H) and Malteser, have still not been allowed to resume their normal operations in the State.

Humanitarian operations have resumed in IDP camps and villages in all townships in the central part of Rakhine in close coordination with the Emergency Coordination Centre and local authorities. However, some critical activities are still taking place at reduced levels. Humanitarian organizations in Rakhine report that there are still difficulties with the referral of severely malnourished children who have medical complications from IDP camps to Sittwe Hospital, due to continued limitations on medical referral services. Most water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions have restarted, however some rainy season preparations have been delayed and some major interventions requiring construction materials are still on hold