Myanmar

Violence escalated at the end of October 2023 in Kachin, Shan, and Rakhine states, displacing an additional 660,000 people and exacerbating the already severe health care needs. People struggled to access care, as hospitals ceased to function following attacks or evacuations, and the warring parties imposed travel restrictions on people and humanitarian organizations.

Our teams in Kachin and Shan provided medical support and distributed relief items such as hygiene and cooking kits to displaced people. We also increased sexual and reproductive health services and support for victims of sexual violence in Kachin, Shan, and Rakhine.

Until November, our mobile teams in Sittwe district, Rakhine, conducted outpatient consultations in remote areas where health care is scarce or non-existent, or inaccessible due to cost or restrictions on movement. We also identified patients in need of specialized care and supported them with the referral process. This process is particularly challenging for Rohingya people, as they are contained in fenced camps or villages and require permission from the authorities to move around.