France has allocated € 1.4 M to improve food security in Rakhine and Kachin States and to contribute rebuilding livelihoods in Chin State in 2016, the French Embassy to Myanmar said in a statement on 21 September.
In Rakhine State, France has supported programs to address the persistent acute malnutrition in Rakhine State in partnership with the INGO Action Contre la Faim (ACF) for more than twenty years. In 2016, efforts are still required to improve access to treatment of acute malnutrition in infants and children in all Rakhine State including Sittwe and North Rakhine. In the second part of the year, food security and livelihoods projects will be implemented by two INGOs - Solidarités International and ACTED - in the districts of Rathedaung, Kyauktaw and Mrauk-U. The projects address the needs of the most vulnerable communities of the targeted areas regardless of ethnic origin and religion.
In Kachin State, France is also engaged towards the growing displaced population as a consequence of ongoing conflicts. A new project implemented by the INGO Première Urgence International (PUI) aims at improving food and nutritional security of vulnerable households including in IDPs camps in Bhamo Township.
In Chin State, following the August 2015 heavy floods and landslides across Myanmar, France has funded early-recovery projects in order to provide food and address nutrition needs. Since April 2016, two longer-term projects have been contributing to the rehabilitation of agricultural livelihood. These projects are implemented by two consortiums of international and national NGOs: a consortium between Triangle generation Humanitaire and ArYoneOo in Matupi Township, and a consortium between GRET and CORAD in Hakha Township.
Over the past three years, France has contributed more than € 5 million through international and national organizations in order to support communities facing severe food insecurity and nutritional vulnerability, the statement said.