Myanmar - Humanitarian Response to the Rohingya Crisis - Canadian Lutheran World Relief 2021

March 2021 – A complex combination of vulnerability to armed conflict inter-communal tension protracted displacement and food insecurity characterizes the humanitarian situation in Myanmar. An estimated one million crisis-affected people require humanitarian assistance this year including more than 336 000 displaced people across the country. Humanitarian organizations operate in an increasingly complex environment including as a result of the recent military coup. With GAC’s support Canadian Lutheran World Relief and its local partner Lutheran World Federation Myanmar improve access to safe water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities non-food items and shelter for internally displaced people (IDPs) and host communities in central Rakhine State Myanmar. This project also addresses protection and social cohesion issues. Project activities include: (1) installing community water filters; (2) distributing WASH and dignity kits; (3) re-constructing longhouses in a safer more dignified and gender-responsive manner; (4) providing training on leadership and rights-based empowerment to women adolescent girls and girls; and (5) conducting awareness-raising sessions on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender-based violence.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased use of WASH SRHR and protection services for conflict-affected IDPs and host communities; (2) increased dignity and safety of IDPs particularly people with disabilities women and girls; and (3) improved quality of life and peaceful coexistence through increased equitable community participation in camp and community leadership and decision-making processes. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in communities experiencing humanitarian crises or that are food insecure.