Conflict and earthquake fallout leave millions stranded in need

  • Large parts of Myanmar’s population will be in contested areas, facing growing threats to their safety.
  • Catastrophically low donor funding threatens to leave many people at risk, particularly women and girls.
  • Climate shocks threaten greater harm due to infrastructure damage from the conflict and the 2025 earthquake.
  • Delivering aid to communities is becoming more difficult due to conflict, physical barriers and economic challenges.
How to help Myanmar
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Country facts

  • Population: 54.5 million
  • 16.2 million people in need of humanitarian aid
  • $11 billion of damage from March 2025 earthquake—15% of Myanmar’s GDP
  • Rank in Human Development Index: 149 of 191

IRC response

  • Started work in Myanmar: 2008

IRC Myanmar briefing

The IRC provides health care, water and sanitation services, and women and girls development support to help people rebuild their lives. 

We operate in Rakhine, Kachin, Kayin, and Shan States in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health. The IRC engages with the Ministry of Health to secure the MoU for the delivery of the programmes, as well as with the Ministry of Home Affairs for the permanent registration.

What are the main humanitarian challenges in Myanmar?

Poverty and inflation remain high in Myanmar, particularly as climate shocks impact the country’s agricultural sector. Cyclone Mocha in May 2023 further damaged crops, impacting the food production and livelihoods of at least 3.4 million people. Currently, some 8.5 million people are facing moderate to severe levels of food insecurity. 

The 7.7-magnitude earthquake in March 2025 further exacerbated an already dire situation, leaving more than 2 million people in urgent need of assistance. Critical infrastructure including residential housing, public buildings, schools, roads, and communication networks sustained severe damage. Communities continue to struggle with recovery, while ongoing aftershocks have compounded the distress and fear among the affected population. 

The upcoming El Niño effect could drive erratic rainfall and higher temperatures, exacerbating needs in Myanmar.

Inflation not only intensifies the daily struggles of vulnerable populations, but also drives up the cost of essential humanitarian goods.

At the same time, the safety and security of the humanitarian workers remain challenging. 

How does the IRC help in Myanmar?

Our mission is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to recover and gain control of their futures.

The IRC began work in Myanmar in 2008, providing humanitarian relief in response to Cyclone Nargis. Since then, the IRC has become a valued partner of both government and local aid organizations. We provide health care, water and sanitation services, vocational training, and women and girls development projects.

As the country struggles to recover from conflict and natural disasters, we are focusing on some of the most remote areas of the country, including Rakhine, Kachin, Kayin and Shan states. The IRC:

  • trains community health workers and supports mobile clinics to improve access to health care;
  • partners with local communities to increase access to clean drinking water, improve sanitation facilities and prevent the outbreak of disease;
  • empowers communities to identify their own development needs and design their own recovery projects, such as health centers;
  • operates women and girls’ centers that provide skills training and support to vulnerable women and girls including survivors of violence;

 

What still needs to be done?

The IRC’s work in Myanmar is more crucial than ever as people struggle to rebuild their lives in the wake of natural disasters and conflict.

We pledge to put the needs of the most vulnerable—women, children and the elderly—at the forefront of our efforts, and to achieve measurable improvements.

Learn more about the risks that the people of Myanmar face and donate to support the IRC’s response.