Statement by the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. Knut Ostby marking World Humanitarian Day

Yangon - Today we mark World Humanitarian Day, an annual event that honours humanitarian workers, who often risk their own lives to help save and improve the lives of others caught up in crisis.

This year we pay special tribute to the women who make up an estimated 40 per cent of the global humanitarian work force, providing food, water, healthcare and other essentials to those in greatest need, whether because of natural disasters or armed conflict.

Myanmar is a country with endless potential, undergoing rapid change, which continues to grapple with complex humanitarian challenges. It is among the most disaster-prone countries in the world, with climate change expected to contribute to even more frequent cyclones and more destructive flooding, and with major cities along earthquake fault lines.

Parts of the country have experienced near-continuous armed conflict since independence, and at least one quarter of a million people are currently internally displaced from their homes in Kachin, Shan, Rakhine and Kayin states. In addition, years of successive waves of violence in Rakhine spiked in August 2017, triggering an exodus of more than 740,000 men, women and children who fled across the border into Bangladesh, where nearly 1 million are now refugees. Since the beginning of this year, Rakhine has seen a major escalation of a separate conflict, forcing tens of thousands of other people from their homes.

With more than 900,000 people in need of humanitarian assistance in Myanmar in 2019, humanitarian workers play a critical role across the country, saving lives, restoring dignity and providing hope. And time and time again we see that it is local communities and local organizations that serve as the first line of response, often with women at the forefront.

This includes, for example, women working as volunteer teachers in the most challenging circumstances in IDP camps, providing basic education for children where formal schooling no longer exists. It refers to the women first responders in Mon State in recent weeks, supporting evacuations and providing comfort, sometimes taking in relatives and even strangers who have fled nearby villages engulfed by floodwaters. There may be no clearer demonstration of the generosity and resilience of the Myanmar people, and the United Nations and our NGO partners are proud to work side-by-side with them.

Today, we reiterate our appreciation for the bravery and commitment of humanitarian workers in Myanmar and around the world, and highlight in particular the essential role women play in assisting and protecting those in greatest need. We recall that humanitarian workers themselves should be respected and protected, and that their life-saving work should be facilitated by all.