Burma (Myanmar)

Teacher training programme

WER is funding a teacher training programmes in Burma through our local partner, Kids Alive.

The course is a series of seminars designed to help 24 Burmese teachers to develop new skills so that they can provide a better quality education. Before joining the course, teachers complete a self assessment together with the trainers to assess their training needs.

The courses will be delivered by primary and secondary teachers from Northern Ireland at WER supported Grace School and Lois School in Kalymaio.

Sustainable incomes through farming - Post Nargis Support

A newly-constructed pig farm in Burma is set to provide income for local farmers effected by Cyclone Nargis. The tropical cyclone struck in May 2008, destroying much of Burma’s agriculture industry, on which it is dependent. The World Emergency Relief UK (WER) pig breeding programme will help the local community by establishing a dependable income that can be expanded.

When Cyclone Nargis struck Southern Burma, over 2.5 million Burmese were affected. For many farmers, the cyclone swept away their entire livelihoods causing a humanitarian emergency with long-term implications.

Post-Cyclone Nargis Support

Following the completion of WER's emergency intervention for victims of Cyclone Nargis, WER is continuing to work in partnership with local organisations within Burma to assist communities as they rebuild infrastructure and livelihoods in the aftermath of the disaster.

WER has provided funding to repair two orphanages which were severely damaged during the cyclone. Thanks to support from WER, the children have been able to return to their homes and are now receiving support from staff as they come to terms with the trauma they suffered during the cyclone.

Emergency Relief for Cyclone Nargis Victims

On 2nd and 3rd May 2008, a massive cyclone, known as Cyclone Nargis, smashed into the Irawaddy Delta region of Burma. Up to 150,000 people were killed and hundreds of thousands of people were left homeless, injured and in desperate need of humanitarian assistance.

WER worked together with ADRA Burma, a local NGO which forms part of the WHO Health Cluster in Burma, to deliver essential medical and pharmaceutical supplies for emergency mobile clinics in the Labutta region of the Irawaddy delta, an area severely devastated by the cyclone.

Total population (millions): 53.5

Life expectancy at birth (years): 64

Adult literacy rate (% age 15 and above): 89.9

GDP per capita (PPP US$): 1,100

Combined primary, secondary and tertiary gross enrolment ratio (%): 56.3

Burma (also known as Myanmar) shares borders with Bangladesh, India, China, Laos and Thailand. It is ruled by a military junta who stand accused of gross human rights abuses, including forced labour involving young children.

Burma is largely rural with fertile soil and dense forests, and boasts important offshore oil and gas reserves. It is also a major source of sapphires, pearls, rubies and jade. Yet despite lucrative exports, Burma is one of Asia’s poorest countries and its people are continuing to get poorer due to ineffective government, inefficient economic policies and the unfair distribution of wealth. Power and wealth are entirely in the hands of military dictators and businesses who are exploiting the natural resources. The rural areas of Burma are particularly impoverished.

In May 2008 a massive cyclone, known as Cyclone Nargis, smashed into Burma’s Irawaddy Delta region, killing up to 80,000, leaving 50,000 injured and washing away entire villages and fields. Hundreds of thousands of people were left homeless and injured. The UN estimates that 2.5 million people were affected by the cyclone.

The most recent Human Development Report ranks Burma at 138, with a medium human development rating status. The Human Development Index (HDI) value is 0.586 compared to the HDI of the UK, which is 0.947.