Despite the stringent measures in the region associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been able to carry out most of the planned work. The COVID-19 pandemic had major economic impacts in 2020. Opportunities for wage labour have narrowed even further and the need for support of alternative earnings and education has increased.

• We renovated and equipped 3 rural schools, where we built washrooms and toilets and built new access roads.
• 761 children and 25 teachers received learning packages. We supplied COVID-19 disease control equipment to schools. 
• We supported two community road construction projects involving joint planning and implementation by Buddhist Rakhine people and Muslim Rohingya people. 
• We organized 9 training sessions for 155 small-scale traders and provided them with minigrant.

In a new project with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), we are building the necessary community infrastructure in the urban areas of Sittwe and Pauktaw. This infrastructure serves both displacement camps, new settlements for Muslims and Buddhists who have had to flee their homes due to local conflict, and adjacent so-called host villages. 

Two water tanks were cleaned and repaired We built latrines, distributed water filters and hand pumps for water. We organized 30 events to clean up villages and displacement camps. We support the construction of roads, footpaths and jetties for water transport on the local river.