Myanmar

COUNTRY INFORMATION

Region: Southeast Asia

Population: 54,806,014

Capital: Nay Pyi Taw

GDP (Million US$): 65,067

Disaster Risk Profile: Exposed to cyclones, earthquakes, floods, landslides, tsunamis and volcanoes, Myanmar's exposure to the impacts of floods and droughts are expected to worsen with the increasing effects of climate change.

Inform Risk Rating: 2.6

Institutional DRR Setup

National Disaster Preparedness Central Committee (NDMC)

Established following the 2004 tsunami and Chaired by the Vice Prime Minister, in charge of regional and national cooperation and coordination of international humanitarian actors. A National Disaster Preparedness Management Working Committee was also established under the Central Committee in 2016 and a National Plan was put in place for nine potential hazards in Myanmar. Disaster prevention and preparedness plans are also in place across all states/region (provincial) levels and townships classified as high-risk have a township-level plan.

Relief and Resettlement Department (RRD)

The RRD, under the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, acts as the Secretariat to the NDMC and supports in the implementation of the Disaster Management Law and Disaster Management Rules. The RDD also provides emergency assistance and coordinates government departments and relevant national and international agencies.

Emergency Operation Centre (EOC)

The EOC was established to support in emergency management, response and logistics. The EOC is set up to monitor weather-related information and early warning; develop research on disasters in Myanmar and formulate response plans for each disaster.

Progress under each Sendai Priority

To improve understanding of disaster risk, Myanmar has made risk assessments available at both local and national levels. In addition to which, the Myanmar Disaster Damage Database was established to consolidate available disaster-related information from government agencies and improve national-level decision making. To strengthen disaster governance in achieving Priority 2, Myanmar is guided by the 2013 Disaster Management Law and the 2015 Disaster Management Rules, with the Myanmar Disaster Preparedness Agency (MDPA) acting as the main focal agency.

To ensure financial provisions are in place for disaster preparedness and response actions, the Natural Disaster Management Law highlights a need to establish a National Disaster Management Fund to be distributed at the national and sub-national level. In alignment with Priority 4 of enhancing preparedness for effective response, disaster recovery and response is coordinated by the Department of Disaster Management under the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement. To improve its early warning systems, the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology set up the National Muitl-hazard Early Warning Centre (NMHEWC) while disaster response, to build back better, has been highlighted as a priority area through establishment of the Coordination Group on Rapid Recovery of Disaster Affected Areas by the Government of Myanmar. Find out more.

NDMO Contact Information

Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement

Find out more