The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has fallen short in their budget to help those displaced by the conflicts in Kachin and Arakan (Rakhine) states. Only 18-percent of the $80M (US) needed has been raised, according to a UN news article published on their website last week.
More than 100,000 have been displaced by fighting in Kachin and northwest Shan states since the fighting started 2 years ago, according to figures provided by aid groups. Most are sheltering in camps located in areas controlled by the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO). Another 140,000 mostly stateless Muslims Rohingya have been displaced by communal violence in Arakan state.
While the humanitarian conditions affecting internally displaced people (IDP) in both states remain a major concern for UN agencies and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) it appears that many international donor countries are uninterested in fully funding humanitarian relief operations.
The Canadian government did however pledge $4.2M (CAN) to aid UN humanitarian relief efforts in both Kachin and Arakan states. One million dollars (CAN) is earmarked for UNHCR, with the same going to the UN's World Food Program (WFP), according to a press released last week. UNICEF will get $300,000 (CAN). Oxfam Canada will receive $1M (CAN) for relief efforts in Kachin state. While the smaller NGO Hope International will get $300,000 (CAN) to operate in Kachin state. An additional $600,000 (CAN) is dedicated to “other humanitarian partners” for Burma development, the press stated.
