The ICRC in Myanmar

Section

The ICRC in Myanmar

Myanmar: Red Cross Red Crescent response to Cyclone Nargis
The Movement's response to the destruction wrought by Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar is being coordinated by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Visit the special section on the International Federation website.

15.05 - Supporting the National Society to help reunite families

13.05 - ICRC assistance reaches cyclone-affected places of detention

11.05 - ICRC flies relief into cyclone-hit country

Volunteers of the Myanmar Red Cross visit homeless families at a school offering temporary shelter in Yangon.

The ICRC began working in Myanmar in 1986 providing physical rehabilitation for mine victims and other disabled people.
From 1999 until the end of 2005, ICRC delegates carried out regular visits to detainees in prisons and labour camps but since 2006 the authorities have not permitted the organization to continue this activity according to its standard procedures applied worldwide.

In addition, the authorities have imposed restrictions on the ICRC's ability to conduct assistance and protection activities on behalf of vulnerable people living in sensitive border areas.

The ICRC continues to support the physical rehabilitation activities of six orthopaedic centres run by the authorities and jointly runs a seventh centre with the Myanmar Red Cross.

The ICRC also supports family visits to detainees and works to enhance the effectiveness of the Myanmar Red Cross Society.

Presence (2008): 106 staff, including 5 expatriates.

Key document

1-11-2007

The ICRC prepared to resume visits to detainees in Myanmar

The ICRC, in line with its strictly humanitarian mandate, has officially asked the government of Myanmar for access to all persons in detention and, in particular, those arrested in relation with the events of August and September. Statement by Pierre Krähenbühl, ICRC director of operations.