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Background
Myanmar is considered a very high-risk country for hazard and exposure to humanitarian crises and disasters, ranking 11 out of 191 countries on the INFORM Risk Management Index. Besides devastating earthquakes, Myanmar has been affected by three Category 4 and one Category 5 cyclones since 2006, while flooding in 2015 was recorded as the worst in decades. The pre-existing risk of natural hazards is aggravated by the ongoing conflict in the country since 2021.
Myanmar's monsoon season occurs from May to October, resulting in seasonal flooding that impacts communities across multiple regions of the country, particularly Ayeyarwady, eastern and western Bago, Chin, Kayin, Rakhine, Sagaing and Tanintharyi. Mountainous areas within these states and regions are also prone to deadly landslides after heavy rain.’ Cyclones usually occur in the beginning and at the end of the monsoon season.
Myanmar has an estimated population of 56.2 million, spread over 15 States and Regions, and 330 Townships. According to the INFORM Risk Management Index from March 2025:
- 11 townships are categorized as very high-risk and highly vulnerable,
- 39 townships are categorized as high-risk and highly vulnerable.
- 280 townships are categorized from medium to very low vulnerability levels.
One aggravating risk factor is the increasing displacement of the population as a result of conflict and natural disasters. As of March 2025, over 3,5M people are internally displaced across Myanmar.
To prepare for increased public health risks as a result of the monsoon season, the Health Cluster has developed this Monsoon Preparedness Plan, to guide health partners how to prioritize actions to minimize the public health impact of the monsoon rains.
This plan aligns with the Myanmar Emergency Response Preparedness (ERP) Plan 2024 prepared by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)’s Emergency Response Preparedness Working Group (ERP WG).