ReliefWeb

Executive Summary

This country book focusing on Burma is intended to be a reference for individuals deploying to conduct disaster preparedness engagements or disaster response operations in Burma, but it is not meant to be a checklist or manual for all disaster response operations.

The research team conducted extensive research and analysis on existing Burmese plans, policies, and capabilities related to disaster management and risk reduction. The team also reached out to United States Government (USG) stakeholders and open source research to compile this book.

Burma is exposed to natural disasters such as flooding, drought, earthquakes, cyclones, and infectious disease epidemics. Burma ranks as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, and the incidence and impacts of natural disasters are expected to increase in coming years. Additionally, Burma has been affected by ongoing conflicts for the past 40 years, which have resulted in large-scale population displacements and accompanying humanitarian crises.

Burma has made significant progress in its disaster management policies, plans, and procedures since 2008, when Cyclone Nargis hit the country with devastating impacts.

The government of Burma has modified the government structure and created new authorities and plans to improve the effectiveness of disaster management at all levels. While this progress is encouraging and shows the determination of the government to make necessary adjustments, the resources to implement the policy changes have been slower to develop. As a result, roles and responsibilities have been designated for official bodies that cannot carry out those duties.

Burma has undertaken efforts to democratize the government and improve socio-economic development since holding free elections. The progress that has been made in the political sphere in such a short time has been impressive and the political reforms have led to an influx of foreign development and investment funds.

Indicators give reason for optimism, but the optimism must be tempered by the reality that the process of modernizing the country after decades of isolation will be slow and advances in one sector will be dependent on improvements in another.

The country of Burma still faces development challenges as most of the population depends on agriculture for employment and subsistence living. The quality and availability of infrastructure, utilities, and services drop off outside of urban areas. As trade and business opportunities increase in cities, the urbanization trend of recent years will continue and possibly grow, meaning that Burma will have to learn to adapt to the demands of different socio-economic classes, an increasingly educated populace, and changing livelihoods landscapes. The conditions of growing from a least-developed country with ongoing conflicts and humanitarian issues will pose challenges that make development gains vulnerable to disaster and humanitarian hazards.