International Assistance in Myanmar

Why we are on site

Since 1948, there have been repeated armed conflicts between state security forces and the 135 ethnic groups in Myanmar.

On February 1, 2021, the military in Myanmar staged another coup to seize power. Since then, there have been armed conflicts between the Burmese military and armed groups throughout the country. Since October 2023, there have been regular air strikes by the military, particularly in areas where the Karen and Shan ethnic minorities live in the majority. As a result, according to UN figures, a further 628,000 people are fleeing within and outside the country.

On March 28, 2025, Myanmar was rocked by a severe earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale. In the affected provinces of Mandalay and Sagaing, many people were killed, injured, or are missing. Large parts of the infrastructure were destroyed. In the immediate aftermath of the quake, free medical services were a vital lifeline. Over the past year, we deployed mobile clinics in Mandalay to reach affected communities and provide essential care. 
Meanwhile initial signs of recovery are visible, particularly in and around Mandalay where reconstruction has progressed and many people have returned to work to rebuild their livelihoods.

What we achieve together with our partner organisations

Together with partner organizations, we have been working in Myanmar since 2008 in the areas of health, nutrition, WASH, and disaster preparedness. We are increasing the resilience of particularly vulnerable communities with measures to improve their income bases. Our target groups are ethnic minorities, internally displaced persons, returnees, and host communities.