Joint Protection Sector - Shelter/NFI/CCCM Cluster Meeting

Thursday 25 January 2018, 14.00-16.30

Meeting Summary

Present: DRC, GenCap (Senior Advisor), Humanity & Inclusion (former Handicap International), IOM, IRC, MA UK, Non-Violent Peace Force (NP), NRC, OCHA, PUI, Solidarites International, Trocaire, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNWomen, WFP - ECHO, Embassies of France, Sweden and Switzerland.

Issue Highlights of the discussion Action Points

1. Introduction Brief recap on the main events of 2017 & recent updates: . Ad interim arrangements in the Shelter/NFI/CCCM Cluster at the National level provide an opportunity to work more closely together to tackle, in a joint manner, some of the most critical cross-cutting issues. The National coordinator sought participants’ views on the best way forward, i.e. convene joint meetings or maintain separate monthly cluster meetings and convene additional joint meetings to discuss cross-cutting issues as needed. . The National coordinator recalled some of the major developments in Rakhine, including the impact of the nRS crisis on the situation of IDPs in central Rakhine as well as recent developments with regard to the Government’s plan to “close” IDP camps. . Concerns were also raised over the ever deteriorating situation in Kachin and NSS, both situations which very much remain under the radar. 2. Outstanding Protection Send out Actions . 9 organizations have expressed their interest to join the Protection Sector’s Strategic Advisory confirmation of SAG group (SAG). Confirmation of membership and invitation to the first meeting will be sent out membership as well before 15 February. as invitation to first SAG meeting CCCM/Shelter/NFIs (Geraldine) . The list of indicators to be used for the revised Site Profile in camps in central Rakhine has not been finalized yet. The national coordinator will liaise with NRC to discuss where things stand and follow-up with concerned cluster coordinators. 1

3. Key highlights Child Protection Sub-Sector from CP and . Next CPWG to be held on Wednesday 31 January at 10am at UNICEF. GBV sub- . Case Management coaching and mentoring trainings will be planned for early this year in field sectors locations.

. Two nominations from Myanmar CP teams have been sent to the CP AoR to take part in the CPiE/CPMS face to face 5 day ToT in Nairobi in March. A roll-out will take place in Myanmar after this. . MHPSS training was conducted in the last quarter of 2017 and will be followed up through the sector in the next quarter in order to strengthen MHPSS in CP. . Adolescent workshop dates have changed from 29th and 30th Jan to the 19th and 20th Feb and will be a joint venture with Protection, GBV and Education colleagues. . Concerns were raised about the increased violence in Rakhine (conflict indicator to keep watch of) and impact on children, large number of medical and detention cases. This leads to the wider issue of children held in detention facilities in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan. . UNICEF organized a 3 hour workshop in Sittwe on the Mother and Child Cash Transfer Program (MCCT) led by DSW: Cash grant is handed over to all pregnant women and children under 5 in Rakhine. Protection sector shared concerns with DSW about the protection risks associated with this programme. Camp Management Agencies (CMAs) shared initial feedback on the implementation of the MCCT programme in the camps they are running and expressed concerns about numerous reports of extortion by Camp Management Committees (CMC). Camp Management Agencies (CMAs) suggested it would be helpful to receive key messages on the programme’s objectives, selection criteria and implementation – it was pointed out that this was a request made by the protection sector and some members of the Technical reference group early January. Gender Based Violence Sub-Sector

. A GBV mainstreaming checklist is being finalized for sectors/clusters. . GBVIMS was rolled out during Quarter III and Quarter IV report is now being completed. A meeting will be held to discuss the data and trends of the same.

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. Quarterly protection analysis meeting bringing colleagues from CPIMS, PIMS, MRWG and MRWG + trafficking will be convened soon to analyze the data. . A second round of trainings on MHPSS is being conducted by UNFPA in Rakhine, Kachin and NSS. . UNFPA and UNWomen have been preparing for International Women’s Day which will be celebrated on March 8. There will be a public theatre across Yangon as well as another big event on March 3-4. 4. Key Protection developments Humanitarian access in central . Due to an increased number of checkpoints, scrutiny has increased and access still remains an Rakhine issue.

. In the past, national staff did not require TAs except to travel to Maungdaw, however they now require TAs on a weekly basis for central Rakhine. International staff need TAs (even for Sittwe) from the Union level. The dual clearance process, at Union and State level is creating confusion and lack of predictability. . On a more positive note, after months of suspension, UNHCR staff received TA to go to IDP camps in central Rakhine. Relaunch of citizenship verification exercise / ICNV . There have been consultations in Zone 1 (around 180) on the ICNV issue with push-back and reluctance from the communities. . The objective of the government is that everyone must hold these documents, advocacy efforts must continue that the citizenship verification should be voluntary. Shelter/NFI/CCCM Disseminate Rapid Shelter Needs assessment in Sittwe information on new shelter design . The assessment was carried out by the shelter cluster jointly with the Rakhine State Government (Richard/Geraldine) (RSG) in January 2018. The RSG provided staffing and financial resources. . Main findings: 70% of the camps in Sittwe have been rehabilitated in 2017. The remaining 30% will be rehabilitated in 2018 as per the new shelter design which was approved by the RSG recently.

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. The new shelter design aims to increase resistance to weather conditions and improve privacy, thus contributing to reducing protection risks. Examples of improvements include stronger outside doors, inside partitions, good quality and sustainable roofing material of 32 gauge. . Concerns were raised about some new partners not using the new shelter design/BOQ and national Coordinator informed that follow-up was being done with relevant actors. “Closure” of Camps/Reclassification from camp to camp-like setting . Since mid-October 2017, the Government of Myanmar appears to be moving ahead with the implementation of the Advisory Commission’s Final Report regarding IDPs and most specifically about “closing” IDP camps. . While this engagement by the authorities could be seen as a positive development, recent initiatives, both at Union and Rakhine State level suggest some plans to convert some IDP camps into villages, similar with the approach that was followed for Muslim IDPs in Kyein Ni Pyin in May 2017 without any progress made on freedom of movement, access to livelihoods etc. and therefore not resulting in dignified solutions to displacement for Muslim IDPs. Drawing lessons from previous relocation operations carried out by the Government, and despite recent assurances given by the Government in terms of access to livelihoods for IDPs, this new exercise is likely to fall short of international protection standards. . These developments were tabled for discussion at the HCT retreat held on 26 January. UNHCR/Protection Sector prepared a discussion note to facilitate the debate on these issues which was shared with Shelter/NFI/CCCM and Protection colleagues ahead of the Cluster meeting. The national coordinator sought additional inputs/comments/suggestions to take to the HCT retreat the following day. Participants agreed with the concerns raised in the note and on expectations from the HCT in terms of decisions and guidance to the field. . Some CCCM partners briefed the group on initial feedback gathered through recent consultations with communities affected by the government’s plan. The CCCM cluster in Rakhine is developing a scenario planning as well as a site level analysis, starting with camps targeted by the Government for so-called “closure”, i.e. Thet Kae Pyin (Sittwe) and Taung Paw (Myebon). 5. Update on nRS . Although at a slower pace, refugees continue to arrive in Bangladesh from nRS (500 per week in Share MIAG by MIAG January, as opposed to 650 per week in Dec, 5200 per week in Nov). Operational Update with Shelter/NFI/ . Protection incidents continue to be reported including looting, attacks, harassment against CCCM & Protection Muslims as well as arbitrary arrests. Security forces have reportedly conducted random checks, colleagues including house searches in several villages. (Geraldine)

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Access . Among organizations that have been authorized to access field sites to provide humanitarian support to affected communities, severe restrictions on access remain. . Humanitarian access to the Maungdaw area has remained severely curtailed for the majority of MIAG partners: only 12.5% of national staff currently present in the northern townships have access to field sites; the remaining 87.5% do not have access. Repatriation Arrangement

. The bilateral Arrangement between Bangladesh and Myanmar “on return of Displaced Persons from Rakhine State” was signed on 23 November 2017. The arrangement is bilateral, UNHCR was not party to the negotiations that led to its adoption. . A Joint Working Group (JWG) was subsequently created and their first meeting was held in Nay Pyi Taw on 15 January. Detailed physical arrangements for the repatriation of refugees were finalised on that occasion. It stipulates that the return process is due to begin by 23 January 2018. . Necessary safeguards for potential returnees are absent. Conditions for voluntary and sustainable returns do not currently exist, there are continued restrictions on access for aid agencies and people are still leaving northern Rakhine. . In addition, UNHCR has shared concerns that refugees were not consulted on return process. . While there has been no reported cases of application for voluntary repatriation, Myanmar has continued its preparations which include the establishment of 2 transit centres (Nga Khu Ya and Taungpyoletwea) and one repatriation camp (Hla Poe Kaung). These preparations have largely focused on infrastructural and logistical arrangements; but further detailed on return and reintegration plans are unknown. . The Government of Bangladesh has reaffirmed its commitment to the voluntariness of return, indicating that no Rohingya refugees would be forced to return to Myanmar.

6. Key Kachin Convene an ad hoc developments joint Shelter/NFI/ in Kachin & . On the peace process, the New Mon State Party and Lahu Democratic Union pledged to sign the CCCM & Protection Northern Shan Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement. They are breaking away from the UNFC rebel coalition (United meeting on Kachin Nationalities Federal Council – coalition of EAG), whose plans for a meeting with the government and NSS (Geraldine) to discuss the NCA at the Panglong Conference – have now been postponed again. The NMSP,

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and the LDU in particular, are not major key players and had stopped posing serious military Seek information on threats years ago. frequency of Shelter/NFI/CCCM . The major northern groups who are not with the UNFC (KIA, AA, TNLA, SSA-North, MNDAA, UWSA Cluster meeting in etc.) have not met the government in months and the process seems to have broken down Lashio (Geraldine) completely with more fighting and government forces even raiding KIA liaison offices in Myitkyina late last year. . Panglong III peace summit has been postponed. The third round of the high-level summit will not take place until February. . Intensification of fighting in December around Laiza, Waingmaw township near Woi Chai IDP camp in NGCA (6,700 IDPs living there). Shelling landing near the camp. Some 200 IDPs from the camp moved to stay with family and friends in Laiza town. . Also intensification of fighting between KIA and MA was reported around Ta-Wan and N’ Ga Ga villages in Tanai Township and continues to present day. . Since 19 January, the conflict between the MA and KIA has restarted in Sumprabum township affecting villagers and IDPs in Ndup Yang (GCA - about 700 people) – led to displacement of 700 people who fled to the forest. According to JST information, most urgent needs are shelter, food and health. On 22 January 5 rounds or mortar shells were fired near the Early Childhood care Centre – no causalities but the civilian population are terrified. . On 20 and 21 January fighting broke out in a village in Hpakant Township near Tanai town. No casualties and villagers temporarily sought refuge at the church compound. . In the last quarter of 2017, 30 protection incidents have been reported though the PIMS affecting 670 victims (304 arbitrary arrests or detention and 202 displaced). MA and police are the main perpetrators. . Humanitarian access to these areas continues to be severely restricted for international humanitarian organizations for both international and national staff to obtain TAs. . DRC colleagues stressed the urgency of the situations in Kachin and northern Shan states which do not receive the level of attention they deserve. DRC colleagues emphasized the commonalities between Kachin and Rakhine, including similar tactics/4-cut strategy by the Myanmar Army, shrinking of humanitarian space, ever decreasing humanitarian access, human rights violations, fear of communities due to proximity of armed conflict and multiple displacement, HLP issues (land taken over by private sector/businessmen), landmine contamination, lack of respect for minimum protection standards for return/relocation/resettlement operations, etc.

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Operational developments . The 7th round of the Camp profiling was rolled out in Myitkyina the week of 22 January and will start in Bhamo next week. The reports will be shared with protection colleagues and the results will be presented mid-May. . NFI distribution of winter items in NGCA is hampered by access restrictions. . The shelter component of the Naung Pone resettlement pilot project in Moegaung Township has been completed at the end of December. WASH activities are underway and the 20 families who are being resettled should be able to move in soon. Northern Shan (update provided by DRC)

. IDPs and other conflict-affected communities share many of the same cross-cutting issues as in Rakhine and Kachin. There has been displacement (government troops) to Mansi Township. The Myanmar Army is moving south in Mansi township causing displacement to the camps in Mainweingyi in south Mansi on the border with Northern Shan. . Reports from the Mainweingyi camps suggest that the camps are overcrowded and new IDPs are staying in the community while being enrolled on the camps lists. . There was a displacement in Lisu camp caused by a clash between Government and TNLA troops in the 2nd week of January. . Threats arising from troop movement from the Myanmar Army and EAGs cause fear among local communities and displacement even in the absence of fighting. . Landmine incidents are on the rise with several causalities, including of children, reported in the past few weeks. . Service providers and duty bearers have difficulty responding to most situations of ongoing conflict, especially to the different needs of short, medium and long-term displacement. . Access is about 15% for national and no access for international staff. . Concerns were raised about the lack of regular Shelter/NFI/CCCM Cluster meetings held in Lashio. 7. AOB . Upcoming meetings/events:  Workshop on revision of Protection Analysis for Rakhine: Sittwe, 1-2 February

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 Workshop on revision of Protection Analysis for Kachin: In Myitkyina, 14-15 March - Save the date email and relevant documentation will be circulated in due course  Workshop on revision of Protection Analysis for northern Shan: Location and dates to be decided. Participants stressed the difficulty for Lashio-based colleagues to travel to MYN, hence proposal made to organize the workshop either in Lashio or Mandalay/Yangon. . HRP Q4 monitoring report is to be released soon and 4W online visualization tool to be launched early February. . PIMS reports for quarter 4 are being finalized and will be circulated soon. . The meeting with the Victim Assistance Technical Group was announced by Humanitarian Inclusion (HI) for the following day, 26 January, at 10 am at the HI office. . Next National Protection Sector meeting: Thursday 22 February, from 14.00 to 16.00, UNHCR

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