This report covers the period 1 January 2012 to 30 June 2012
Overview
About 400,685 vulnerable people were reached during the first half of 2012 through programmes conducted by the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS), with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). A number of accomplishments for MRCS have been seen during this period, in reference to disaster response, community-based programming, organizational development and advocacy. The society’s emergency management fund has reached the minimum operational level of CHF 500,000, thus giving its disaster response capacity a boost.
Existing community-based programming across all sectors stands to provide vulnerable communities with improved, holistic assistance through a joint framework on community safety and resilience which is at approval stage – the framework seeks to consolidate and harmonize relevant components of existing programmes and projects, which contribute to the shaping/achievement of characteristics embodying community resilience. Among all community-based programmes, the community-based health programmes continue to make significant inroads among vulnerable communities. Organizational development highlights comprise the participation of the society in the Organizational Capacity and Assessment Certification (OCAC) process and the launch of separate capacity building initiatives in logistics and planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting (PMER). In reference to advocacy, the National Society has engaged in high-level advocacy meetings with several state and regional governments from the beginning of the year, with very positive outcomes.
The most significant event which has affected the society’s operations is the unrest in Rakhine State which began in early June this year. MRCS volunteers and staff have been providing untiring, impartial assistance based purely on need, to displaced communities. The society has been assisted in its efforts by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), as well as IFRC (which has provided coordination support), in-country partner national societies, and more recently, several national societies who have provided donations in cash and kind. MRCS remains the only aid organization with access to all areas without the need for armed escorts. The society is doing its utmost best to preserve its acceptance among all communities by providing impartial aid.
Delays in several programme activities (supported by IFRC and other partners, and covering areas such as disaster risk reduction, community-based health, recovery assistance for Cyclone Giriaffected communities, and assistance to internally displaced people) have been experienced due to a temporary suspension of activities from June to July, prompted by the uncertain situation. All other organizations working in the area were forced to impose similar suspensions. Upon the lifting of thesuspension in July, MRCS activities have resumed albeit at a slower pace due to the continuing uncertainty of the situation which includes daily curfews imposed by the authorities in a few areas, and a change in demographics due to the displacement.