In terms of capacity building to facilitate the return and reintegration of returnees, UNHCR organized planning meetings, a Kobo training tailored towards return monitoring, and four psychosocial training workshops for GBV actors, youth, and social influencers within returnee and host communities.
UNHCR continued protection monitoring activities in the South East (SE) in 2020. Together with the Mine Risk Working Group (MRWG), UNHCR monitored 19 landmine incidents reported across the SE. UNHCR worked closely with the MRWG, sharing incident information, and referring cases of people with specific needs (PSN) related to landmines to the relevant organizations for essential medical services and multi-purpose cash assistance. UNHCR and its partners conducted Mine Risk Education awareness raising activities in 46 villages in Kayin State, Tanintharyi Region, and Bago East. Moreover, a fact-finding mission on spontaneous refugee return situations was conducted and an analysis paper was developed and shared with other actors who are engaged at field level to guide the programming of appropriate and urgent interventions. Regarding the provision of special assistance for persons with specific needs, UNHCR provided non-food items (NFI) to 129 households in the South East.
As mentioned above, although Facilitated Voluntary Return (FVR) movements did not take place in 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19, UNHCR continued to monitor the situation in return areas, conducted benchmark assessments, and shared updated information on places of return with the UNHCR Thailand team.