January 2019 – The humanitarian situation in Myanmar is characterized by a complex combination of vulnerability to natural disasters, armed conflict, inter-communal tension, statelessness and displacement. It is estimated that 941,000 crisis-affected women, men, girls and boys will be in need of humanitarian assistance this year. With GAC’s support, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA Canada) is increasing access to clean water, hygiene and sanitation services, as well as improving access to information, goods and basic services for conflict-affected and internally displaced people (IDPs) in up to 52 camps in Kachin and Northern Shan states of Myanmar. Project activities include: (1) delivering gender-sensitive hygiene promotion and hygiene kits; (2) improving water distribution systems; (3) improving desludging of existing latrine facilities, and access to gender-sensitive latrines; (4) conducting sensitization campaigns on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and providing information on referral systems and services for survivors; and (5) providing cash grants to internally displaced persons, prioritizing particularly vulnerable groups such as pregnant and lactating women.
The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased awareness of gender and culturally appropriate hygiene practices among crisis-affected IDPs, especially women and adolescent girls; (2) improved equitable access to safe, dignified, cultural and gender-sensitive water and sanitation facilities for IDPs, especially women and children; (3) improved dignified access to basic goods and services by vulnerable crisis-affected IDPs, especially women and children, through targeted individual and household multi-purpose cash grants; and (4) increased awareness of female and male IDPs on SGBV, survivor rights and available support services. The expected ultimate outcome is reduced suffering, increased and maintained human dignity and lives saved of internally displaced persons affected by conflict in Kachin State and Northern Shan State of Myanmar.
