Former Breadbasket of Southeast Asia

Myanmar is situated on the Bay of Bengal, and is home to the fertile Irrawaddy delta. One third of Myanmar is covered by rainforest, and the country boasts a wealth of natural resources such as gold and crude oil. For a long time, Myanmar was the wealthiest country in the region. Today, it is considered one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia. Armed conflicts, fifty years of military rule, and a succession of devastating natural disasters have hindered Myanmar’s development.


Poverty among Rural Population

Despite economic progress, the former ‘Breadbasket of Southeast Asia’ continues to suffer poor economic management, corruption, and international sanctions. Thirty-two percent of the population lives below the poverty line, forced to survive on less than 2 US Dollars per day. A large portion of the population is made up of rice farmers who earn very little. In 2008, cyclone ‘Nargis’ claimed the lives of 140,000 people, and flooded farmland with saltwater, destroying the livelihood of local farmers.

Malnutrition and Poor Medical Care

Poor living conditions contribute to malnutrition, particularly among children. Every third child under the age of five shows signs of malnutrition. The situation is compounded by inadequate medical care, and a lack of medicine and physicians. Residents of rural areas have to travel long and far to obtain expensive medical care. This is one of the reasons that diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and AIDS remain untreated. This is reflected in the high mortality rate of children.

Help for Malnourished Children and their Families

Shortly after cyclone “Nargis” hit in May 2008, Johanniter arrived onsite to support medical care to flood victims.

Currently, Johanniter and ADRA, a non-government organisation, run a project to support malnourished mothers and children in Labutta. Trained mothers from the region, as well as community health workers teach mothers about proper nutrition and hygiene. They also learn how to cultivate and prepare nutritious and low-cost meals in cooking and gardening courses.

Please click here for additional information about Johanniter’s nutrition projects in Myanmar.

Please refer to the table below for information on current Johanniter International Assistance projects in Myanmar.