Attachments
Health facilities across Kayin State have been repeatedly damaged or destroyed by airstrikes, artillery fire, and direct clashes since the February 2021 military coup. These attacks undermine care, displace communities, and threaten staff safety.
What We Know
- Health facilities have been damaged or destroyed by the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF), Arakan Army and the People Defense Force (PDF) using plane and drone delivered explosive weapons.
- Some health facilities were also damaged in arson attacks.
- Health workers, including doctors, nurses, and ambulance drivers, are at risk of harm, either from direct attacks on health infrastructure or from being caught in the crossfire.
Risks Identified
- High in conflict zones or contested areas
- Public and charity-run facilities are often affected
- Leads to loss of care, displaced staff, and destroyed supplies
Practical Tips
- Relocate vital supplies and equipment to safer areas when conflict escalates
- Reinforce facilities structurally and create underground or secure storage for medicine
- Establish early warning and evacuation plans
- Prepare mobile units or alternative service sites to maintain care continuity
- Comprehensive guidance on how to protect health care from drone attacks is available in English and Burmese.
Action to Take
- Use this guidance to train health staff, inform coordination calls, and display posters in clinics and field offices.
- Adapt protocols to fit your specific operating environment.
These are just a few steps to help protect Mandalay’s health workers and sustain health services amid worsening insecurity. Explore complementary strategies from Mandalay, Sagaing, Shan, and Rakhine in their respective reports to strengthen coordinated action. For broader insights, consult the Security Risk Management for Health Care Services (SR4H) Handbook.