16 April
Submitted by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement
ON motley assortments of inevitable ground reasons, the IDP (Internally Displaced Person) camps cropped up in Kachin State, Kayin State, Chin State, Rakhine State, and Shan State in the Union of Myanmar, where necessary protection and assistance are provided that bring smiles and satisfactions to the vulnerable and the marginalized persons.
Statistics on 6 April 2020 shows that the five states under reference have accommodated (128) IDP camps and (7) conflict-induced IDP camps, and other temporary shelter where (255,000) helpless are taking shelter.
Shouldering the onerous task, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement — in collaboration with the respective state governments, the ministries, the INGOs, the civil society organizations, and well wishers — is providing the underprivileged with the food, shelter, education, health, electricity, transportation, security, and livelihood.
Working in top gear
At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic hit another grim milestone on this planet, Myanmar has formed the National-Level Central Committee for COVID-19 Prevention, Control and Treatment, and that tasks are rolling ahead in top gear.
As having expected through projection, the first positive patient was detected on 23 March 2020, which prompted the formation of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Containment and Emergency Response Committee. Related tasks are being rapidly carried out with the broad participation of the people in the whole country.
On the part of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, the officers and the staff members stepped into the grass root areas starting from the Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory to the Ward/Village level of the whole country hand in hand with the relevant frontline workers.
In accordance with the instructions, directives and guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Sports, the MSWRR has disseminated the public with the awareness raising information through the hand speakers, the loud speakers and the available public addressing system, including the distributions of handouts and pamphlets.
Spreading out in the campaign are the officers and staff members of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the General Administration Department, the Ministry of Information, the related government departments, the Red Cross Society, and the Civil Society Organizations.
At various quarantine facilities under the care of the regional and the state governments, it was all hands on deck pouring out their hard work in keeping the management in smooth functioning.
Lending hands in the drive
A number of school cum shelters and cyclone shelters under the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement have been transformed into “Community Based Facility Quarantine” units in collaboration with the region and the state governments. The shelters are from the townships namely Hinthada, Labutta, Pyapon, Hlaing Bwe, and Kaw Thaung.
Moreover, in the Rakhine State, the Hla Pho Khaung Kyar Camp in Maungtaw Township has been transformed into “Community Based Facility Quarantine” unit for the returnees who came back with their own consent.
More importantly, the “Psycho Social Support”, in other words — consoling and counselling, has been provided at the “Community Based Facility Quarantine” units.
For those who are in dire need of consoling and counselling have the valuable opportunity by calling the phone numbers being provided by the Ministry in the relevant region and state, where the specially trained professionals are ready to answer in a secure and confidential mode over the telephone.
With regards to the violence against women and girls, it takes many different forms, including domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment. These cases could be confided at helpline — 067 3404222 and 3004999 with safe, secure and confidentiality.
No one is to be left behind
In the campaign of social protection programme and the humanitarian assistance programme, the motto “No one is to be left behind” has been upheld by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement in its implementation. This is being carefully applied in the IDP camps.
For COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment at the IDP camps, the preparatory meas ures and preliminary working programme have been drafted and sought approval from the National-Level Central Committee for COVID-19 Prevention, Control and Treatment.
In the working plan, the implementation tasks include such as that of imparting knowledge and awareness on the disease; that of the prevention on the spreading of the virus; that of the emergency response when the symptoms of the infection are being detected; that of the proper management of the resources; that of the cooperation and coordination; that of the proper management over the information with regards to the pandemic trend; that of the monitoring and evaluation over the working plan.
In connection with the various stages incorporated in the working plan, the UN agencies and the INGOs have been duly informed and updated through the video conferences, and discussed for full participation and cooperation.
Additional cooperation and coordination have been sought and arranged with the UNDP, the WFP, the UNICEF, the UNOCHA, the other UN agencies, the LIFT Fund Board, the World Vision, the Blue Sky, and the Myittar Yin Myit Foundation.
Covered 67 per cent
Beginning 27 March 2020, the work programme started to spin and swing at the IDP camps in the five states through the hand speakers, loud speakers and public addressing systems on all the information in connection with the spread of COVID–19, and the dos and don’ts, including the free distribution of soaps.
Up till 12 April 2020, at (86)IDP camps and conflict-induced camps, the awareness raising campaign have been accomplished for over (67) per cent including the free distribution of (7,000) bar of soaps, and the humanitarian work continues.
The remaining work is going to take shape according to working schedules in the backdrops of the available transport and on the ground reality at the targeted areas.
After detailed discussions between the Department of Disaster Management and the relevant organizations, the infrared thermometers have been distributed, and that the IDP camps in Kachin State received (9) units; the IDP camps in Rakhine State received (9) units; the IDP camps in Shan State received (4) units; the IDP camps in Kayin State received (2) units. Moreover, (10,000) surgical masks and (10,000) soap bars are in the pipeline for the IDP camps for free distribution in the near future.
Three more IDP camps are already earmarked and planned for Samee Town and Meezar Village in Paletwa Township in Chin State, where the same treatment and dealing would be accorded.
Assistances to be continued
Soap bars and masks for each and every household would be distributed free of charge at all IDP camps with the funds of the Department of Disaster Management.
The necessary items for disease prevention and things for disinfectant would be provided after due consultation with the partner organizations.
At all the IDP camps in Kachin State, Kayin State, Chin State, Shan State and Rakhine State, the elderly persons between the ages of 60 and 85years, and the pregnant mothers and under 2 years infants would be entitled to K20,664 as financial support.
The amount is calculated on the basic calorie of four nutrition for each day for per head equivalent of K (984) multiplied for (21) days, which would be borne by the Department of Disaster Management.
The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement has been mitigating and reducing the suffering of the people due to natural disaster or due to social adversity, and also providing necessary management.
In the face of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, which is the defining global health crisis of the time and the greatest challenge that have faced since World War Two, Myanmar is engaging the virus with the lead of the National-Level Central Committee for COVID-19 Prevention, Control and Treatment headed by the State Counsellor.
In conclusion, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement — in line with the directive of the Central Committee — is shouldering and continue to do so with the cooperation and coordination with the relevant government departments, the government agencies, the UN agencies, the civil society organizations, the community based organizations, the well wishers. It pledges and promises to help and assist the people at the IDP camps and the entire population as a whole with seriousness, significance and sincerity.
(Translated by UMT (Ahlon)
