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.
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.
Many of the displaced families have been there for nearly two years. We provided them with rice, oil, peas, salt and mosquito nets.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.