Humanitarian Assistance for Conflict and Natural Disaster Affected Internally Displaced Persons in Kachin and Northern Shan States - II This project will enable the Metta Development Foundation to set-up a Rapid Response Mechanism to meet the humanitarian needs of people newly displaced due to conflict or natural disaster. The project will ensure that sudden-onset humanitarian emergency response capabilities and resources are pre-positioned to be deployed quickly and effectively, thus reducing vulnerability and saving lives. These pre-positioned capabilities and resources will also enable Metta and implementing partners KRDC and WPN to address gaps in the on-going humanitarian needs of existing Internally Displaced People (IDP) in Kachin and Northern Shan states across many sectors, namely Food Security, Nutrition, Shelter and NFIs. KRDC and WPN are members of JST and both organisatons are implementing partners of Metta in nongovernment controlled areas. Metta has been partner with KRDC since the beginning of 2011 responding to immediate needs of IDPs. WPN is an implementing partner of SCI in Mai Ja Yang area in Kachin state. 
At present, close to 110,000 people (Men 36,973, Women 44,787, Boys 14,625, Girls 13,614) remain internally displaced living in 177 camps in Kachin and Shan states after armed conflict between the Myanmar Armed Forces and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) re-ignited in June 2011, ending a 17-year ceasefire. Armed clashes continue to be frequent in both Kachin and Northern Shan states, displacing some 9,000 new IDPs (M 4,222, F 4,778) in Kachin in April 2018. In Northern Shan State clashes involving other non-state armed groups – notably the Shan State Army- South (SSA-S) and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) continue and the situation remains highly volatile and 2823 persons newly displaced in October and November in 2018. Hence, the potential for new displacement from the spread of armed conflict to new areas is ever-present. Since 11 April 2018, Kachin State has witnessed a spike in the crisis with Tatmadaw military offensives involving heavy artillery and airstrikes. The situation is seriously affecting local civilian populations, causing civilian casualties, detainment, entrapment and new displacement in many townships in Kachin State. As per the 29 May 2018 update over 8,907 civilians (4,185 M, 4,722 F) have been newly displaced. 
Adding to the complexity of the situation, people in Kachin and Shan states are extremely vulnerable to natural disasters, such as storms, landslides and flooding, with the large number of IDPs being particularly at risk due to their often marginal housing conditions and livelihood situations. 
This project will enable Metta to be prepared for any potential humanitarian emergencies resulting from conflict or natural disaster. 
Project activities will prioritize the needs of particularly vulnerable and marginalized people and promote gender equality. Preferential treatment in selection processes will be given to vulnerable group.
Metta will implement Nutrition and Shelter activities in Maija Yang area in non-government controlled areas with WPN and KRDC. At the same Metta will implement NFIs and foods needs in Northern Shan state and Kachin state covering both government and non-government controlled areas. Metta will monitor the progress of WPN and KRDC on quarterly basis. However, communication for information sharing will be maintain throughout the implementation of the project.