Myanmar: Humanitarian access in Kachin and northern Shan (July 2018)

The armed conflict that continues in northern Myanmar is one of the world’s longest-running civil wars. Millions of people have been affected, including many who here have been displaced by fighting multiple times in their lifetimes. In Kachin, about 100,000 displaced people are in camps as a result of fighting between the Myanmar Military and the Kachin Independence Army. In northern Shan, nearly 10,000 displaced people are in camps. In spite of the needs, humanitarian actors have limited access. For more than two years, the UN has not been permitted by the Government to deliver assistance to conflict-affected civilians in areas controlled by armed groups, where there are about 40,000 displaced people in camps. Even in Government-controlled areas, humanitarian access is severely constrained.

Overview INDIA The United Nations and its partners BAN- CHINA continue to assist conflict-affected GLA- people in northern Myanmar, but DESH they face increasing difficulties in Nay Pyi Taw LAOS getting Government travel authori- INDIA Nawngmun zations to address humanitarian needs. For Government-controlled areas, most travel authorizations are THAILAND granted only for the main towns. Puta-O This prevents humanitarian staff Machanbaw SAGAING from having access to most of the displaced people, who are located Khaunglanhpu outside the main town centres. Quality inter-agency needs assess- ments have become near impossi- Tanai Sumprabum ble to conduct. While national Tsawlaw partners continue to have limited and unpredictable access to areas beyond Government control, the UN and nearly all international NGOs Chipwi cannot monitor or support them in KACHIN Injangyang their activities. Hpakant Access constraints have a serious Myitkyina impact on the protection and welfare Waingmaw of conflict-affected people, including Mogaung IDP sites in Government women, children and elderly people. controlled areas In April 2018, about 2,000 people in Myitkyina Kachin were sheltering in the forest Mohnyin IDP sites in areas controlled for weeks due to fighting, while by armed groups or contested humanitarians had no access. Distri- areas butions of food, emergency shelter, Momauk blankets, clothes and mosquito nets Shwegu are routinely delayed or blocked. Displaced people are often left Bhamo without proper shelter & protection from heavy rains, wind and heat for Mansi Muse Konkyan extended periods, particularly in CHINA Namhkan remote, hard-to-reach areas. Laukkaing Mabein Kutkai Kunlong Manton # people in IDP camps/sites in Hseni Kachin/Shan as of 31 May 2018 Mongmit Lashio Hopang Namtu (data from CCCM Cluster) SHAN MANDALAY Namhsan MongmaoPangwaun (NORTH) Government controlled 68,090 areas Kyaukme Narphan TangyanPangsang Non-Government Hsipaw Mongyai 38,297 Nawnghkio controlled areas Mandalay TOTAL 106,387 SHAN Matman (SOUTH) 50 km SHAN (EAST) The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Creation date: 9 Jul 2018 Sources: UN and INGOs in Kachin and Shan Feedback: [email protected] www.reliefweb.int