The United Nations is seeking additional support for its response plan in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, where a resurgence of violence in October has pushed the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance to 115,000.
The revised plan now sets the funding appeal at $67.7 million, more than double the original request of $32.5 million. At present, the appeal has only received $27 million in funding.
The global body updated its response plan after a multisectoral assessment in October revealed major areas of concern: food, shelter, WASH, health and nutrition. IDPs don’t have access to health facilities, and the plan notes there have been reports of diarrhea cases in the camps due to poor sanitation and water availability.
The revised funding appeal will cover the period until June next year. “Partners assumed that immediate relief assistance is required until the end of 2013 as the situation is unpredictable and will take time to normalize,” the plan notes.
The violence that erupted between Rakhine Buddhists and Muslim Rohingya in June has attracted attention from the international community and has led the government of Myanmar to declare a state of emergency in the area. The United Nations estimates 89 people have died and more than 5,300 houses and religious buildings have been destroyed due to the conflict, according to a press release.
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About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
