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By Wah Eh Htoo, World Vision Myanmar communications
World Vision has partnered with the WFP to distribute much-needed food items to more than 33000 ethnic minority villagers in remote mountainous Kachin State, bordering with China and Tibet autonomous region, in north-eastern Myanmar
About 2.5 metric tons of food was distributed in March alone to about 200 villagers and 1010 metric tons of food will be distributed as a whole project.
The area, dwelled by several small tribes of Kachin ethnic group, is underdeveloped due to hard terrain, compounded by ethnic insurgency and political instability.
Officially known as Kachin Special Region 1, it is currently under the administration of a Kachin ethnic armed group called New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K), which has a ceasefire agreement with the Myanmar government since 1989.
It is the first time that World Vision has conducted their work in Kachin State.
"This project gives a great opportunity for WV to expand its support for the needy communities in Kachin State," said Mr Belete Temesge, the relief and food program manager for the Kachin distribution.
Local people will receive food items, mainly rice, through the participation in World Vision facilitated development works, which aim to improve their food security status. The project is carried out through programs such as food for work (to improve infrastructure), food for education (to improve children education status) and food for training (to improve skills).
The project, which began in January 2008, is a year-long partnership between World Food Program and World Vision Hong Kong, though an extension of the project will be sought.
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