World Food Programme Myanmar: Kachin State Operational Brief

Kachin is the northern State of Myanmar, bordering with the People’s Republic of China in the north and east, Shan State in the south and Sagaing Region and India in the west. The majority of almost 1.7 million people living in Kachin makes a living out of agriculture (mainly rice), followed by mining industries (e.g. jade, gold). Although Kachin State is rich in natural resources, more than 30 years of armed conflict between the central Government and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) have impacted the lives and livelihoods of the population.

In 2008, WFP opened its Myitkyina sub-office to provide food assistance to the conflict-affected communities in order to rebuild livelihoods and improve their food security and nutritional status through its protracted relief and recovery operation. In mid-2011, when clashes between the central Government and the KIA revolved around the disarmament and integration of the KIA into the border guard force, approximately 100,000 people in Kachin State were displaced. Since then, WFP has been providing life-saving food assistance to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Government-controlled areas (GCA) and areas beyond Government control (NGCA).