Frequently asked questions about the ICRC's work in Myanmar

Our teams work across several parts of Myanmar, prioritising hard-to-access and conflict-affected communities. In areas affected by the March 2025 earthquake, we support the Myanmar Red Cross Society, local responders and health authorities as communities move from emergency relief towards recovery.

In the areas affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence we provide communities with their daily essentials and vital information regarding the risks of explosive hazards. Whenever possible, we also encourage communities to start livelihood initiatives. 

We also support hospitals and other health structures with medicines and medical equipment. Through our physical rehabilitation programme, people with disabilities are able to receive orthopedic footwear and mobility devices.  

We support families, helping them visit their detained relatives, and we assist people after their release from detention so they can return home with dignity. We also work to clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing relatives and, whenever possible, help reunite families.

Together with the Myanmar Red Cross Society and community based civil societies, we organize first aid and pre-hospital care training sessions for those helping people in emergency situations. 

You can reach out to the ICRC by calling +95 977 666 2555  

Opening hours are from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  

You can also send us a message on ICRC Facebook Myanmar.
 

If you are in Myanmar, you can reach out to the ICRC by calling +95 977 666 2555  or contact the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) at +95 995 755 7000.  

If you are outside Myanmar, please reach out to your closest Red Cross or Red Crescent Society or the ICRC office. You can find a directory here.  
 

In Myanmar, the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) plays a leading role in emergencies and natural disasters. They also operate ambulance services in some locations.

MRCS Ambulance +95 9 669 958 858

For more information or to contact your nearest branch, please visit the Myanmar Red Cross Society Facebook.

The ICRC helps people affected by armed conflict, other violence, and natural disasters across Myanmar. Our response combines emergency aid with long-term assistance: during acute crises, we distribute food and household items to address urgent needs, and over the longer term, we support families in rebuilding their ability to generate income.

Our work also includes supporting access to clean water and health-care facilities, promoting respect for international humanitarian law, and raising awareness of the risks of weapon contamination.

We visit prisons and engage with the detaining authorities to secure humane treatment, adequate living conditions and family contact for all detainees. While we seek access to all detainees, our ability to visit specific locations depends on ongoing dialogue and consent from the authorities.

Our response to the March 2025 earthquake remains part of this wider humanitarian work within the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Over the past year, the ICRC reached more than 300,000 people across earthquake-affected areas — providing shelter, clean water, health services, food and economic support. This was one of the most significant humanitarian responses we have undertaken in this country in recent years.

Together — through the ICRC, the Myanmar Red Cross Society, the IFRC and partner National Societies — the Movement reached more than 500,000 people across earthquake-affected areas.

Significant progress has been made — homes repaired, livelihoods gradually restored, and access to essential services improving. But recovery remains fragile and uneven. Many families remain in transitional shelter, especially where the effects of the earthquake overlap with armed conflict.

The ICRC operates under the fundamental principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence. In Myanmar, we maintain direct dialogue with all relevant actors, on a strictly humanitarian basis, to ensure that our work is carried out without political or military influence. We negotiate access independently, assess needs objectively, and provide assistance directly to communities affected by conflict, violence, and disasters.

Carrying out humanitarian work in Myanmar is complex. Ongoing armed conflict, insecurity and disrupted supply routes all affect how and where we can reach people in need. We work continuously to preserve and expand humanitarian access, while maintaining the neutrality and impartiality that allow us to operate across front lines.

Individuals can support the ICRC’s humanitarian efforts by making financial contributions through our official donation platform. These funds help us provide essential aid, including food, medical assistance, and emergency relief, to affected communities.

Donations can be made directly through the ICRC’s official website, ensuring that funds go directly to humanitarian operations. The ICRC does not rely on third-party crowdfunding platforms for fundraising.

The ICRC provides technical, financial, and material support to MRCS to enhance its emergency response capacity. This includes first aid training, logistics support, and assistance in delivering aid to hard-to-reach areas. The collaboration is based on shared humanitarian goals and strict adherence to neutrality.

Yes, the ICRC coordinates with various humanitarian organizations, including the MRCS, UN agencies, and NGOs, to ensure that aid reaches those in need effectively. However, we maintain our independent operations and do not align with any political entity.

The ICRC works to ensure that all detainees, regardless of the reasons for their detention, receive humane treatment and adequate living conditions. Access is a matter of ongoing bilateral negotiation with the detention authorities. The ICRC seeks access to all places of detention and all detainees based on humanitarian needs. While the ability to visit specific locations depends on security conditions and the authorities’ consent, our visits are always guided by the principle of private interviews with detainees of our choice. This engagement takes place within our confidential and bilateral dialogue with the authorities, the content of which we do not disclose publicly or to third parties, including comments on individual detainees.

The ICRC ensures that donations are used efficiently, with the majority of funds going directly to humanitarian operations. As an independent humanitarian organization, we have strict financial accountability measures in place to maximize aid delivery.

Read more about our funding and spending.
 

Due to visa and access constraints beyond our control, we cannot currently facilitate visits by media or third parties. We remain available to provide context and operational information through briefings and audiovisual materials.