This report covers the period 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012
Overview
In 2012, about 925,586 vulnerable people were reached out of the 715,505 targeted, through programmes and services conducted by Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS), with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The programme cost was CHF 3.9 million or 86.6 per cent of the budget for the year which was CHF 4.5 million.
Accomplishments for MRCS revolve around 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 stand to provide vulnerable communities with improved, holistic assistance through a joint framework on community safety and resilience (CSR) which is at approval stage – the framework seeks to consolidate and harmonize relevant components of existing programmes and projects, which contribute to the shaping and 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 society in the organizational capacity and assessment certification (OCAC) process and the launch of separate capacity building initiatives in logistics and in planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting (PMER). In reference to advocacy, MRCS has engaged in high-level advocacy meetings with several state and regional governments from the beginning of the year, with very positive outcomes.
A milestone achieved by MRCS at the last quarter of 2012 was the start of the construction of its second central warehouse which is located in the compound of the MRCS headquarters in Nay Pyi Taw. The facility will increase the capacity of MRCS to store up to 12,000 family packs of non-food items in 22 different locations.
The structure has a provision for a training center as well as office space. Construction is due to be competed in June 2013.
With regards to MRCS response, a 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 Commitee of the Red Cross (ICRC), as well as IFRC (which has provided coordination support), in-country partner national societies, and more recently, a few 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 Giri-affected communities, and assistance to internally displaced people) have been experienced due to a temporary suspension of activities from June.Such activities were resumed with different timelines, depending on the security situation. All other organizations working in the area were forced to impose similar suspensions. Upon the lifting of the suspension in July for most areas, 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.