Inclusive Disaster Preparedness in Myanmar

Although the annual monsoon season in Myanmar has become shorter in recent years, the intensity of rainfall and storms has increased. Due to its many rivers and heavy rainfall, the country's Kayin State is particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events. In 2013 and 2018, 10,000 people were displaced by severe floods.

Natural disasters affect the entire population, however, people with disabilities face higher risks. Many disaster management measures neglect appropriate infrastructure, such as barrier-free evacuation centres and escape routes.

Our aim is to appropriately include the needs of people living with disabilities in our disaster preparedness activities.

• People living with disabilities should play an active role in the implementation of preventive strategies and should be actively involved in the processes of development and monitoring.
• With adequately preparing people living with disabilities, which involves taking into account the “build back better” strategy we hope for a more effective response to extreme weather and the time of reconstruction.
• We want to integrate and involve people living with disabilities and other vulnerable groups so that they can actively engage in community-based preparations of disaster risk reduction.

• Support for the training and organization of people living with disabilities on national and community levels
• Provision of wheelchairs and crutches
• Awareness raising about the importance of inclusive measures of disaster risk reduction
• Promotion of active participation in events and discussions on the topic of disaster risk reduction
• Establishment of a civil protection task force in Kayin State
• Promoting knowledge sharing on the relationship between risk and disability
• Support for the establishment of disaster risk management committees to distribute emergency kits, carry out joint risk analysis, and identify existing capacities
• Development of early warning systems to pay special attention to people with disabilities
• Organization of simulation exercises, first aid training, search and rescue activities for schools and communities
• Support for redesigning of barrier-free evacuation centres