With a new disaster risk reduction project Malteser International is expanding its disaster preparedness in the townships of Rathidaung and Sittwe, in Rakhine state, where there is a high risk of earthquakes. The project aims to improve the social infrastructure and thus reduce the population’s vulnerability in emergencies, contributing to a sustainable development in the target regions.

The Order of Malta’s international relief corps will rebuild schools as cyclone proof evacuation centres with sanitation facilities and drinking water supplies. The project is financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and includes first-aid training and health and hygiene education for the village communities.

Myanmar is regularly affected by natural disasters and Malteser International has been present there since 2001 and has been actively involved in disaster preparedness and risk reduction since 2005.