MYANMAR Disaster Management Reference Handbook March 2020 Acknowledgements CFE-DM would like to thank the following people for providing support and valuable inputs to this document: Dr. Sithu Pe Thein Christine Rivera Torres Alan Aoki Ranya Ghadban Cover and section photo credits Cover Photo: Bagan Myanmar by Yoshitaka Ando. 2 May 2017. CC https://flickr.com/photos/jenlung-box/34587536486 Country Overview Section Photo: Young Monk in the Window. Photo courtesy of Christine Rivera Torres. 8 February 2020 Disaster Overview Section Photo: Fighting Floods in Myanmar by EU/ECHO/Pierre Prakash. Civil Protections Humanitarian Aid. 8 September 2015. https://flickr.com/photos/eu_echo/30145370151 Organizational Structure for Disaster Management Section Photo: Yangon by Rayesh-India. 4 October 2014. CC https://flickr.com/photos/pamnani/15437975075 Infrastructure Section Photo: Inle Lake, Myanmar Fisherman Rowing with Food so Hands are Free to Fish. Photo courtesy of Christine Rivera Torres. 8 February 2020 Health Section Photo: Fighting Floods in Myanmar by EU/ECHO/Pierre Prakash. Civil Protections Humanitarian Aid. 8 September 2015. https://flickr.com/photos/eu_echo/30196045456 Women, Peace, and Security Section Photo: Burmese Woman Wearing Thanaka. Photo courtesy of Christine Rivera Torres. 8 February 2020 Conclusion Section Photo: Sulamani Phaya Temple With Local Nuns. Photo courtesy of Christine Rivera Torres. 8 February 2020 Appendices Section Photo: Mandalay Kuthodaw Pagoda – World’s Largest Book. Photo courtesy of Christine Rivera Torres. 8 February 2020 2 Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance Table of Contents Welcome - Note from the Director ...........................................................................................................9 The Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance ................10 Disaster Management Reference Handbook Series Overview ...................................................11 Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................12 Country Overview .....................................................................................................................................14 Culture .......................................................................................................................................................17 Demographics .........................................................................................................................................18 Ethnic Makeup .................................................................................................................................18 Key Population Centers ................................................................................................................18 Language ...........................................................................................................................................18 Religion ..............................................................................................................................................19 Vulnerable Groups .........................................................................................................................19 Economics ................................................................................................................................................21 Government .............................................................................................................................................21 Environment ............................................................................................................................................22 Geography ........................................................................................................................................22 Borders ...............................................................................................................................................22 Climate ...............................................................................................................................................23 Climate Change ...............................................................................................................................24 Disaster Overview ....................................................................................................................................26 Hazards ......................................................................................................................................................26 Recent History of Natural Disasters .................................................................................................27 Country Risks ...........................................................................................................................................30 Country Risk Profile ........................................................................................................................30 Myanmar Disaster Management Reference Handbook | March 2020 3 Organizational Structure for Disaster Management ..................................................32 Lead Government Agencies in Disaster Response ....................................................................32 National Disaster Management Committee .........................................................................32 Key Disaster Management Partners ................................................................................................33 United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs ..........................33 Myanmar Humanitarian Country Team ..................................................................................34 ASEAN .................................................................................................................................................34 International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement ........................36 Myanmar Red Cross Society .......................................................................................................36 International Organization for Migration (IOM) ..................................................................37 U.S. Government Agencies in Myanmar ........................................................................................38 Participation in International Organizations ................................................................................39 Foreign Disaster Relief and Emergency Response ...............................................................40 Laws, Policies, and Plans on Disaster Management ..................................................................41 Education and Training ........................................................................................................................44 Disaster Management Communications.......................................................................................45 Early Warning Systems ..................................................................................................................45 Responsible Agencies for Warnings .........................................................................................46 Armed Forces’ Role in Disaster Response ...............................................................................46 Information Sharing ......................................................................................................................47 Infrastructure .................................................................................................................52 Airports ......................................................................................................................................................52 Seaports ....................................................................................................................................................53 Roads ...................................................................................................................................................53 Railways ..............................................................................................................................................53 Waterways .........................................................................................................................................53 Schools ......................................................................................................................................................54 Disaster Risk Reduction in the Education Sector ................................................................54 Communications ....................................................................................................................................55 4 Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance Utilities .......................................................................................................................................................55 Power ..................................................................................................................................................55 Water and Sanitation .....................................................................................................................56 Health .............................................................................................................................58