At the ICRC-supported Myitkyina Physical Rehabilitation Centre, we have integrated mental health and psychosocial support services to meet the needs of service users.
We use mindfulness activities to foster an environment where they feel a sense of belonging and can freely share their feelings without shame or stigma.
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In late March, we provided assistance in the form of hygiene kits and shelter materials to the displaced people living in Paletwa and Samee townships in Chin State.
Thousands have been displaced in the region because of the armed conflict since 2019.
“While some of the families have returned to their villages of origin, others are still living in the displacement camps. As people continue to suffer the humanitarian consequences of the armed conflict, we hope to come back soon to help them,” says Ko Wai Thein, an ICRC staff member from the Sittwe office.
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In late August 2023, our team was in Kayin State providing emergency aid to over 1,500 displaced families living in Myaning Gyi Ngu, Ohn Taw, Kamamaung town and their surrounding areas.
Many of the displaced families have been there for nearly two years. We provided them with rice, oil, peas, salt and mosquito nets.
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Through the Safe Return Home programme, the ICRC team in Myanmar supports released detainees to reach home in a safe and dignified way.
Our teams meet with the released detainees and provide them with money for transport, allowance for food and temporary accommodation besides sharing necessary information. In 2023, we helped 3121 people reunite with their families after their release from detention.
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Two years ago, many families fled from Kayah State to the Mandalay Region because of intense clashes.
Our team in Mandalay supported the displaced families through agricultural and livestock programmes to start a small vegetable farm on their dry plot of land as a way to rebuild their lives in a new environment and increase their resilience through self-reliance.
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Children learn about the risk of unexploded ordnance at an awareness session in Mrauk-U Township.
The ICRC team in Rakhine continued to conduct sessions on Risk Awareness and Safer Behaviour in villages and displacement camps across the state to mitigate the risks associated with explosive devices.
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"I used to go on my motorbike to sell vegetables and meat. In a landmine incident in 2022, I lost my leg as well as my motorbike," says Ko Than Zaw Oo, from Hsipaw.
Now in the process of being fitted with a prosthesis at the Kyaing Tong Physical Rehabilitation Centre in Shan State, he is determined to reclaim his active life despite the challenges life brought his way.
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In early May, Cyclone Mocha severely impacted many communities in Myanmar.
The communities, especially those in Rakhine State, were already facing challenges because of ongoing conflict. Our team from Mrauk-U was on the ground, providing assistance in displacement camps the day after the cyclone.
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Many families fled their homes in northern Shan State because of ongoing clashes and sought refuge in safer areas.
In response, our team in Lashio provided emergency aid to families across four temporary shelters in Lashio town. Our initial response focused on setting up sanitation systems and providing essentials like drinking water, mats, blankets and mosquito nets to prepare for harsh winter conditions.
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To improve access to clean water for the people living in remote and conflict-affected areas of Kachin, the ICRC team has implemented four gravity flow water system projects over the last five years, benefiting 11,000 people.
This system is designed to efficiently transport water from uphill springs to low-lying areas through pipelines. The system helps people living in remote areas save time and effort in collecting water from distant sources and increases their access to clean water.
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In Rakhine State, our goal is to improve the water quality for all communities.
This year, our team in Maungdaw worked in partnership with the Township Development Committee to enhance the urban water supply system. We helped construct a new intake tower with three inlet pipes in the Mya Kan Thar reservoir providing clean water to 45,000 people in Maungdaw.
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Our team in Lashio distributed paddy seed and groundnuts to families across Kutkai, Lashio, Namtu, Namhkam townships in northern Shan State during monsoon season, when it’s time to plant.
Families will be able to earn an income from their farms as well as consume better quality food.
Armed clashes continued in Myanmar in 2023, resulting in an increased need for humanitarian aid as people struggled to cope with the effects of the violence. The situation worsened when Cyclone Mocha hit in early May, severely impacting those already affected by the fighting.
Many families were forced to flee their homes and struggled to access essentials such as food and basic services. It was also difficult for humanitarian aid to reach the affected people and help them in their time of critical need.
Amid all this, teams from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) continued to support all communities, including the displaced, and respond to urgent needs. Wherever possible, we worked to strengthen the long-term sufficiency and resilience of communities, giving people the means to restore their economic security in a sustainable way, repair vital infrastructure, support health care and help communities stay safe in their environment.
These photos capture the resilience and determination that we witnessed throughout 2023 and provide glimpses of the strength and courage of communities in the midst of difficult circumstances.
To learn more about our work in Myanmar, check out the links below.
