Provision of essential COVID-19 response and prevention measures in Ethnic Controlled Areas of Southern Shan RI will mobilise rapid scale up of COVID-19 response to meet the emerging needs of an estimated 58,217 people living in 19 conflict affected communities and humanitarian settings in Ethnic Controlled Areas of Southern Shan.  Working in partnership with five ethnic health organisations (EHOs) – currently under-resourced to cope the growing transmission risk – RI will focus on supporting locations expecting large numbers of returning migrants and where host communities are particularly vulnerable in Mawkmai, Monghsu, Mongkaing, Laihka, Kyethi Townships.  

Ethnic Controlled Areas of Southern Shan have been largely overlooked by the humanitarian community.  While there is no large scale displacement, populations are often paralysed by ongoing tension and sporadic fighting between political factions (despite signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement) which restricts movement and access to essential services. No government health services, including COVID-19 responses or preparation, are accessible in the target populations. They are serviced instead by EHOs (recognised health departments of Ethnic Armed Organisations run by a mix of staff and volunteers) and local community groups for information, health services and other assistance.  

These communities are now experiencing an overwhelming additional pressure from migrants returning from Thailand and China since those countries closed businesses and factories as part of their COVID-19 response.  Returning migrants place a triple burden to host communities: as possible transmission routes for the COVID-19 virus – many have travelled or stayed in crowded conditions at the border as additional household members to absorb/look after in communities where income levels are already perilously low and they represent a major loss in income to households who were reliant on the remittances they sent home.  

Activities will primarily focus on provision of large-scale risk communication for infection prevention and control, together with information dissemination on key protection issues and services and procurement and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) and related items for EHO health staff and volunteers to enable them to: i) carry out surveillance in community- and home-based quarantine ii) continue basic essential health service provision for returning or host community members and ii) manage and refer suspected COVID-19 cases.  

Secondly, EHOs who are managing community quarantine facilities will be supported to: i) scale up hygiene promotion and establish comprehensive WASH facilities in community quarantine sites, including handwashing, drinking water storage and establishment of temporary latrines ii) distribute essential hygiene and dignity kits to those staying in community and home-based quarantine and iii) set up handwashing stations in EHO health posts.  

Thirdly, recognising the vulnerability of returning migrants and their lack of income, RI will provide multipurpose cash assistance to those who have completed their stay in community quarantine sites to assist with immediate needs for essential food and household items. 

Protection concerns will be mainstreamed across all activities, ensuring that interventions take account of the needs of women, girls, older persons and persons with disability and all will be screened and planned to align with infection prevention and control measures, including safe distancing and good hygiene practice.  

Environmental impact will be addressed and mitigated wherever possible, including in particular: management and disposal of biohazardous waste and environmental sensitization messaging throughout COVID-19 and hygiene information campaigns.