Intervention on COVID-19 in Kachin and northern Shan This already fragile situation in Kachin and northern Shan states is further compounded by the outbreak of Covid-19 virus which WHO declared on 11 March 2020 as a global pandemic, rapidly affecting over 190 countries worldwide. This respiratory infection of the virus is said to be highly transmittable through close physical contact with infected persons. Thus, the infection can be aggravated in the context of densely populated displacement/collective sites in Kachin and northern Shan with poor living conditions. Ministry of Health and Sports Myanmar first reported 2 positive cases on 23rd of March, confirmed cases topping 132 till 23 April 2020 according to its latest update. No confirmed case is reported so far in Kachin and 1 positive northern Shan. This indicates that immediate preparation and response should be preposition for the containment of the spread of Covid-19 and to minimize the risks of deaths among most vulnerable people at camps and host communities in Kachin and northern Shan.
This project will enable the Metta Development Foundation-Metta, to continue and expand our humanitarian emergency preventative measures and responses if required in government controlled areas and non-government controlled areas of Kachin and northern Shan states. The project’s goal reflects Metta’s commitment to pre-position capabilities and resources to quickly and effectively prepare and respond to Covid-19 crisis in IDPs camps and host communities. 
The project activities will be implemented in Kachin and northern Shan with the overall targeted beneficiaries of 35,905 (Men-8633, Women-9698, Boys-8667, Girls-8907). The activities to be undertaken as part of this project include interventions in priority sector Health amp WASH, Shelter amp NFIs and Protection. 
Health related activities include: Provision of essential healthcare facilities to 40 community quarantine centers and healthcare centers at the IDPs camps in GCA and NGCA in Kachin (Activity 1.1.1) Supporting personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves and etc. for Metta's humanitarian workers in Kachin and northern Shan states (1.1.2) Provision of personal protective items such as masks, soap and Hydrochloride/Spirit to the IDPs in northern Shan (1.1.3) Supporting 25 community quarantine centers for operation to enable surveillance related activities in Kachin (1.1.4) Construction of healthcare centre at Sut Mu Awng camp in NGCA in Kachin and construction of 2 temporary quarantine centres  in northern Shan State (1.1.5) awareness on Covid-19 at the camps and host communities for best practices to minimize the risk of infection in northern Shan (1.1.6), and Health referral support for Covid-19 suspected cases in northern Shan (1.1.7).
WASH Installation of 10 water storage tanks in 10 Metta's WASH focal camps with the provision of diesel in Banmaw, Momauk, Mansi townships in Kachin (Activity 2.1.1) Building of 2 lockable and gender-segregated temporary latrines for temporary quarantine centres in northern Shan (2.1.2) Installation of hand washing stations in northern Shan (2.1.3) Maintenance of wash facilities provided in northern Shan (2.1.4).
Protection Provision of dignity kit for men, women, boys and girls in northern Shan (Activity 3.1.1) Psycho-social Support Activity for the IDPs in northern Shan (3.1.2) Providing emergency referral Support for GBV cases in northern Shan (3.1.3).
Shelter and NFIs Construct 40 single unit type shelters in Sut Mu Aung camp in Kachin (Activity 4.1.1) Distribute Covid-19 related non-food items to the 300 of most vulnerable persons in Kachin State (4.1.2) Distribute non-food items to 1100 individual IDPs in northern Shan State (4.1.3).