This Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) provides a framework for coordinated, needs-based and prioritized humanitarian action in Myanmar in 2020. It has been developed by the Myanmar Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), under the leadership of the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC), based on the 2020 Myanmar Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) and a comprehensive analysis of response capacities. It sets out the humanitarian component of a broader engagement by the United Nations (UN) and its partners in Myanmar which spans relief, recovery, peace-building and longer-term development activities. This HRP recognizes the primary role of the Government of Myanmar in the initiation, organization, coordination, and implementation of humanitarian assistance within the country. The overarching goal of the HRP is to ensure that the physical and mental wellbeing of people affected by conflict or disasters in targeted locations is improved, minimum living standards are ensured, durable solutions in line with international standards are achieved wherever feasible, and respect for the rights of affected people is enhanced.

Despite a significant scale-up of the humanitarian response by the United Nations and humanitarian partners since 2016, in support of the Government of Nigeria, the humanitarian crisis in the BAY states continues. Civilians still bear the brunt of a conflict that has led to widespread forced displacement and violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. New and protracted displacement, triggered by the conflict, continues to affect access to basic services and disrupts the livelihoods of millions of people. Acute malnutrition among children under the age of five is above emergency thresholds in many parts of the BAY states.

The Rohingya Refugee Crisis Response Plan is focused on life-saving and protection assistance for the most vulnerable people. The Plan targets 1.2 million people, including all Rohingya refugees, and 300,000 Bangladeshi host communities over the next six months.The plan prioritizes the provision of life-saving assistance, improving the conditions and management of settlement areas, as well as promoting protection, dignity and respect for the Rohingya refugees.

In 2019, many more people needed humanitarian assistance than we had forecast, largely because of conflicts and extreme climate events. Donors provided a record $16 billion for inter-agency appeals between January and November 2019. Compliance with international law is declining. Armed conflicts are killing and maiming a record number of children, forcing them to flee their homes. They are becoming a lost generation. Women and girls are at higher risk of sexual and gender-based violence. One in five people living in conflict areas has a mental health condition.Highly violent conflicts are causing widespread hunger, displacement, death and destruction around the world. They are taking a heavy toll on civilians, who account for 90 per cent of the casualties when explosive weapons are used in populated areas. There were 791 attacks against health workers and health-care facilities in the first nine months of 2019, resulting in 171 deaths. In 2018, 131 aid workers were killed and 130 were kidnapped in 400 attacks. Attacks against health and aid workers are putting millions of people at risk by denying them care and aid.