eCentre returns to Myanmar to conduct contingency planning training

Source: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees - Regional Centre for Emergency Training in International Humanitarian Response (eCentre)
Date: 19 Mar 2009

Emergencies can occur at any time, and when they do careful planning can make the difference between a successful response and lives lost. This was the principle lesson of the Contingency Planning Workshop organized by the eCentre from 11 to 14 March in Yangon, Myanmar.

Following its successful pilot workshop on International Humanitarian Response in Myanmar in November 2008, the eCentre returned to Yangon at the request of the Myanmar Government to organize specific training on Contingency Planning. The Myanmar Contingency Planning Workshop looked specifically at the case of voluntary return and reintegration of refugees from Thailand, and the planning that would be needed to ensure their return with safety and dignity. Following planning steps laid out in Inter-Agency Standing Committee Guidelines* the participants assessed the situation, developed scenarios, analyzed warning factors and considered policy and operational assumptions. They then modeled the response planning process by analyzing likely tasks in major sector or cluster areas, and likely responders who would be available to contribute to response. Presentations from UNHCR's Regional Training Officer for Protection brought perspectives on how to achieve sustainable return within the framework of a protection and rights-based approach. Finally, the group concluded with an analysis of further needs to perfect planning for this and other scenarios in the future.

The Myanmar Contingency Planning Workshop coincided with a visit from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres to that country, in which the importance of UNHCR's continued presence was stressed, the extension of UNHCR's programme for the population of northern Rakhine State was agreed, and increasing scale of activities to complement UNHCR's protection role in relation to voluntary return and reintegration were discussed.†

In all, the Myanmar Contingency Planning Workshop was attended by 22 government officials, 2 NGOs and 6 staff of UN or other international organizations. Most reported leaving with a better understanding of the contingency planning process in general, and a greater understanding of the needs of returning refugees in rebuilding their lives in particular. Equally important, the increased understanding of UNHCR's humanitarian work offers the possibility of affording better protection and assistance for displaced people in Myanmar and those who voluntarily return.

The Myanmar Contingency Planning Workshop was organized by the eCentre in cooperation with the Government of Myanmar. Additional help was provided by InterWorks LLC and the UNHCR Representation in Yangon.

*To see UN Inter-Agency Standing Committee Guidelines for Contingency Planning, click here.

†To see full press release on the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' visit to Myanmar, click here.