WFP Myanmar: Shan Operational Brief

Shan State, the largest State in Myanmar, borders with China in the north, Laos in the east and Thailand in the south. Its territory constitutes 23.2 percent of the entire country and is divided into northern Shan, southern Shan and eastern Shan.

In September 2003, WFP opened its first sub-office in Laukai, Kokang Region to support ex-poppy farmers. In 2004, WFP’s presence was expanded to Wa Self-Administered Division and nine townships in the northern part of Lashio, where people’s food security had also deteriorated following the opium ban. Since then, WFP’s food assistance in northern Shan has been carried out through its Lashio area office and Pang Kham sub-office.