This update covers the period from 1 October to 30 November 2010 and is issued on 3 December 2010. At least five agencies reportedly plan to expand their I. Highlights activities in numerous villages in Chin State next year. Karuna Myanmar Social Service (KMSS) will increase • Cyclone Giri hit Southern Chin State on 23 the scope of its interventions in five northern October causing various levels of damage to farm townships and ADRA will do the same in southern lands, irrigation systems, bridges and roads. townships (except Paletwa). Merlin will implement a Primary Health Care (PHC) programme in 36 villages • The findings of an assessment undertaken in in Hakha Township and expand its malaria programme November by WFP Hakha Office in 14 villages in to cover the entire township. Mindat and Kanpetlet Townships indicate that the communities have lost approximately 90% of their GRET, with support from LIFT fund, will implement a cultivated crops due to rat infestation. The crops project with a focus on agriculture and capacity damage results in a food shortage since mid building, covering over 50 villages in five Northern October. townships. The project will cover a period of two years (2011-2013). II. Situation Overview Solidarités has been granted a permission by the Heavy rains and strong winds caused by Cyclone Giri Chin State Peace and Development Council to destroyed three bridges which connected Mindat and conduct an assessment on food security and WASH in Pakokku towns. The latest report indicates that the Kanpetlet. The assessment is scheduled to be bridges are yet to be renovated and people are conducted from 1-8 December with close consultation currently using ferry boats. Another bridge connecting with UNDP and WPF on the ground. Mindat and Kanpetlet towns, which was also washed away by the cyclone, has been temporarily renovated A UNICEF team visited Hakha on 24 November and by the communities. The irrigation systems were also met its local government counterparts to discuss the damaged. Some villages were reportedly inaccessible future activities in health, nutrition and child protection due to landslides. sectors in Chin State. An assessment on rodent infestation was undertaken OCHA completed a compilation of data on agencies’ by WFP Hakha Office in early November, covering 14 2011 project plans and shared it with the respective villages in Mindat and Kanpetlet Townships. The partners with an aim of creating a better understanding findings show that the communities have lost of gaps and overlaps. approximately 90% of their cultivated crops, which results in a food shortage starting from mid October III. Sectors onward. The affected population depends mainly on Food- According to reports from agencies present in forest products such as taro, pine woods, wild flowers the southern part of Chin, more food assistance will be and avocados for household consumption. A one- required particularly for the communities in Mindat, month food distribution for affected communities is Kanpetlet and Madupi Townships which were under consideration. seriously affected by the rat infestation in July and Main findings of the food security assessment done in heavy rains in August and October. August indicate that the 81% of the households have Distribution figures in October show that WFP has inadequate food consumption and 57% reported that provided a total of 164.475MT through food for work/ the rat infestation was the major problem in the region. food for training (FFW/FFT) programme with its The assessment also find that many households have partners in Chin State. a potential of a significant reduction on crop production this year due to crop damages caused by rat The food security situation in Chin remains critical due infestation which started since 2008. to the rat infestation, high expenditures on food and unsustainable coping mechanisms such as sale of Other findings are as follows, livestock, debts, reducing meals to cover the food • Major sources of income: wage labour (41% of consumption. the households), farming (22%) and sale of Health – The provision of health education in Malaria, livestock (14%). Diarrhea, and Acute Respiratory Tract Infection (ARI) • Major expenses of households: food (33%), by CARE is ongoing in targeted 11 villages in Teddim health (28%) and education (21%). Township. • Source of food consumed: purchase (51%); borrowing or credit (14%); own production (26%) Merlin conducted Village Health Committee Training on 17-18 November with the participation of 64 villagers from 32 targeted villages. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - (Myanmar), 40 Natmauk Road, Tamwe Twonship, YANGON, Myanmar. Tel: +95-1-544500 Humanitarian Update Issued on 30/11/2010 MCC continues providing home, hospital and clinical • A Community-Based Organizations (CBO) care to HIV/AIDS patients, as well as HIV/AIDS workshop in which 54 representatives from 54 counseling in Falam. UNDP-targeted villages in Hakha Township participated. The second round of the EPI plus programme was implemented in November in 47 hard-to-reach villages The UNDP’s demonstration plots of upland and in Mindat, Kanpetlet, Tedim and Tonzang Townships. lowland paddy fields have produced increased yielding UNICEF supports the Basic Health Staff with vaccines by 50-60% compared to the average yielding rate of and the cost of transport to the village level. In traditionally cultivated plots. addition, 22 villages in high-risk malaria areas received 2,200 LLIN (bed nets) in Hakha and Falam IRC distributed farming tools to 612 beneficiaries in 15 Townships. villages in Paletwa. Nutrition – Due to the long prevailing food insecurity GRET completed the provision of 59 cows to 15 problems in Chin State, nutrition surveillance activities farmer groups and 36 goats to 9 farmer groups in four are needed for townships currently not covered by the northern townships in November. GRET distributed microfinance loans amounting to kyat 2,000,000 surveillance system supported by UNICEF. Accordingly, UNICEF is planning to expand the (approximately U$ 2,200) to four households in Hakha. exercises to Mindat and Kanpetlet Townships. CAD distributed 50 units of soil test kits to farmer Merlin’s Mother and Child Health and Nutrition groups in four villages in Htantlang Township; (MCHN) activities, supported by WFP, in 54 villages in inaugurated a Human Resource Development Center Htantlang Township will be concluded by the end of in Hakha; and organized leadership and development 2010. trainings (29 October-13 November). Education – World Vision (WV) is providing a one- Protection – UNICEF and Tiddim Baptist Convention month training (15 November-13 December) on Early (TBC) plan to provide Child Right and Child Protection Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) to 30 (CRCP) awareness training in 12 villages in Tiddim ECCD teachers In Teddim. Township. Two school-based Early Childhood Care and World Vision (WV) conducted anti-trafficking Development (ECCD) centers were opened in Hakha awareness raising talks in five targeted villages in town in November by the Department of Basic Tiddim on 15 November. Education and Planning with the support from IV. Upcoming Events UNICEF. UNICEF provided the necessary training for teachers and ECCD management committee A UNDP Donor Mission to Chin State is tentatively members and play material for children attending the scheduled for 5 December. The mission will visit centers. Falam Township to monitor the activities carried out by UNDP. WASH –UNICEF provided WASH assistance including flexible pipes for water supply system to Lungbum The southern Chin inter-agency coordination meeting Village in Falam. KMSS provided additional water will take place in Kanpetlet Township on 3 December. pipes in Calthawng Village in Raezua Sub-township. Two inter-agency coordination meetings will be held in Country Agency for Rural Development (CAD), funded Hakha and Tiddim on 14 and 16 December, by Oxfam, continues providing assistance, including respectively. pipe construction materials to support the community V. Coordination water supply system in Hakha and Htantlang. Agriculture and livelihood – During the month of Inter-agency coordination meetings, postponed during October and November, several trainings were the elections period, have resumed as usual. Starting undertaken by UNDP as follows: from January 2011, GRET plans to organize quarterly meetings among the partners working in the • Six agricultural trainings related to agriculture and livelihoods sector. life skills in 17 DANIDA-funded villages in Tiddim. Contact Information OCHA Chin Office OCHA Yangon Office No. Ma/060, Pann Chan Lane, Myo Thit Quarter, 40 Natmauk Road, Tamwe Township, Hakha, Chin State Yangon, Myanmar 95 95196934, 95 98602829 95 1 544500 [email protected] [email protected] Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - (Myanmar), 40 Natmauk Road, Tamwe Twonship, YANGON, Myanmar. Tel: +95-1-544500 .