Myanmar Country Profile

Medical Action Myanmar (MAM)

IIRR

Population: 51.4 million

Major Threats: Fires, Drought, Floods, Landslides, Cyclones

Populations Affected: Urban and Rural Poor Communities, Farmers, Coastal Communities, Rohingya Ethnic Group
Locations Affected: Kachin, Kayin, Mon, Rakhine, and Eastern Areas of Shan States. In Recent Years, additional Regions–Bago, Ayeyarwady, Chin, and Sagaing–Have also Experienced Annual Floods

Industries Affected: Agriculture, Fisheries, Tourism

Compounding Issues: Climate Change, Deforestation and Land Degradation, Poverty and Vulnerable Communities, Limited Infrastructure, Inadequate Disaster Management and Preparedness, Lack of Data and Information, and Prolonged Conflict Fuelled by Ethnic Tensions

World Risk Index Ranking: 6

Global Climate Risk Index: 21 (2021)

Myanmar, located in Indochina Island’s western region, shares borders with China, Thailand, Lao PDR, Bangladesh, and India, covering about 680,000 square kilometers. The country faces various natural hazards, including extreme temperatures, cyclones, floods, storm surges, and heavy rainfall events. Among these, drought is the most severe, causing significant harm to health, property, assets, and livelihoods.

In May 2008, Cyclone Nargis struck, resulting in a devastating toll of 84,537 fatalities, 53,836 missing, and 19,359 injured. Nearly 450,000 houses were destroyed, causing economic losses of US$4.1 billion (Post-Nargis Joint Assessment – PONJA). The 2015 floods were the worst in Myanmar’s history. Over 9 million people in 12 of 14 states were affected, resulting in 149 fatalities, 1.6 million temporary displacements, and extensive property and crop damage.

In August 2019, widespread floods engulfed various regions of Myanmar due to heavy rainfall, causing devastating landslides and leading to 82 fatalities and 49 injuries. Approximately 200,000 people were affected, with 201,133 individuals from 43,759 households being evacuated to 400 evacuation sites in the affected areas. Among the impacted regions, Mon State suffered the most severe consequences (NDMC Situation Report). The most recent disasters include Cyclone Mocha striking Rakhine in May 2023, followed by floods in Bago and other areas in August 2023.

Myanmar is highly vulnerable to a range of natural disasters, including floods, landslides, tropical cyclones, droughts, and earthquakes. These calamities can have catastrophic consequences, as evidenced by the profound loss of life during Cyclone Nargis in 2008 and the significant economic damages resulting from the 2015 floods and landslides. A significant portion of the population, dependent on subsistence agriculture in rural areas, is continually exposed to the risks of floods and droughts. Regrettably, the government lacks a comprehensive strategy to manage the financial aftermath of these disasters, leading to substantial losses amounting to 0.9 percent of GDP annually. For example, historical data shows that the average annual cost of emergency response to floods alone is approximately US$9 million. According to the World Bank and GFDRR (2012), Myanmar exhibits the highest levels of economic and social vulnerability to disasters among the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Myanmar faces a multitude of climate change impacts driven by human activities, including the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These impacts encompass more intense cyclones, floods, and droughts, resulting in loss of life and infrastructure damage. For instance, Cyclone Nargis in 2008 inflicted substantial devastation. The country’s extensive coastline places it at risk from rising sea levels, endangering coastal areas, communities, agriculture, and ecosystems. Shifts in rainfall patterns and extreme weather events are disrupting agriculture, leading to reduced crop yields and food shortages. Furthermore, rising sea levels are encroaching upon rice production in the Ayeyarwady Delta, while deforestation heightens Myanmar’s vulnerability to the impacts of climate change.

Climate change also imperils Myanmar’s diverse ecosystems and unique species, which struggle to adapt or migrate to suitable habitats, resulting in biodiversity loss. Moreover, climate change indirectly affects human well-being through heat-related illnesses, waterborne diseases, injuries, displacement, and the spread of diseases linked to extreme weather events. Changes in precipitation patterns impact water availability, leading to increased flooding or prolonged droughts, which, in turn, affect freshwater resources used for drinking, irrigation, and industrial purposes.