Transforming rural communities in Myanmar

Thank you from the Health & Hope team for your continued support and generosity towards our work. It is not possible to capture everything we are doing in this short report, but through this snapshot of our activity we hope that you are inspired by all that your support is achieving.

Earthquake Update - Six months on…

Six months after the devastating earthquakes in central Myanmar in March, humanitarian needs remain severe with some affected communities still in need of shelter, health care, clean water, and other critical support. Over 3,800 people have been killed, over 5,000 injured, buildings destroyed, and tens of thousands of people have been left living on the streets.

The monsoon has compounded the hardship of those whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the earthquakes.

Without safe places to return to after the disaster, many people are living in tents and makeshift shelters, exposed to the harsh weather. Many people have been too frightened to return to their homes, with daily aftershocks continuing for several weeks since the initial much larger quakes.

The destruction and disruption of essential services, including education, expose millions, particularly vulnerable groups — including women, children, and marginalised communities — to greater risks.

Earthquake Relief

Thanks to your generous support, working with three implementing partners and a local church, Health & Hope has been able to deliver urgent relief across 67 locations reaching approximately 24,300 people.

This was accomplished despite significant operational challenges. All our partners deployed teams as quickly as possible, and these initial activities (please see below) were delivered between early April through to early August 2025. More recent support has focused on the provision of shelter for families, which was identified as the most pressing need by the affected communities. Our activities have included the provision of the following:

• Food - Rice, noodles, bread, and tinned fish.
• Essential household Items – including water containers, buckets, cups, and sleeping mats.
• Shelter - Three large emergency shelters initially built to support 85 households, with a further 65 household sized houses built.
• Medical care - Provision of medical care and treatment to those injured by the earthquake or in need of medical assistance.
• WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) - Provision of latrines and fresh water to affected individuals with new/repaired wells and/or treated water.
• Hygiene kits - Provision of hygiene kits including toothpaste, soap, essential medicines.
• Cash grants - Provision of unrestricted (multi-purpose) cash grants to recipients.

At one village, one of our partners identified one individual with a physical disability in need of additional care. This partner was able to use some project funds to provide her with a wheelchair. Her sister, who cares for her, said, ‘From now on with this help, wherever we go she can come with us.’

Myanmar relief projects

We have continued to implement relief projects in Myanmar. This year we completed a project distributing household essential items through seven implementing partners, where we reached over 21,000 people with support.

We are currently implementing a further cash grant project, given the huge needs faced in the area. This is focused on using cash for nutritional support. Last month we reached over 9,000 people in Chin State.

Health

Community Health and Emergency Response Project

We are pleased to have re-launched the support of over 320 Community Health Workers (CHWs), and combine this with the support of nine fixed clinics and mobile health teams who travel to remote areas to provide much needed health care.

Last year our Community Health Workers provided over 55,000 consultations to local communities. Over 7,300 people received treatment at one of the nine community clinics we support, and ove 4,800 treated through one of our mobile clinics, where trained clinicians such as doctors and nurses provide more advanced community care and refer to secondary care when needed.

The challenges of insecurity and conflict continue, with our implementing partners regularly facing serious difficulties simply to maintain good communciations and support of our CHWs.

Home Based Clinic

This clinic is operated by the Health & Hope clinical team including our own trained medics and nurses. Medical care is provided to refugees who are unable to access health care in usual settings, given the vulnerability of their context.

Over the past nine months, the clinic provided 729 free consultations, conducted home visits for 18 severely ill patients, and delivered inpatient care to 13 individuals. Emergency referral support enabled 13 critical patients to receive life-saving secondary care.

Despite resource limitations, the team also treated patients for chronic conditions, malnutrition, and infectious diseases, while offering compassionate follow-up and culturally appropriate translation services.

Education

Freedom to Education programme

University Students Update

Our university students have begun a new academic year, and we are encouraged to report that the majority are performing well in their respective fields of study.

Class 12 Students Update

Our 35 Class 12 students have now reached the mid-point of their academic year. They are currently sitting for their first term examinations, marking a critical step in their preparation for final board exams.

We are supporting them closely both academically and emotionally, recognising the pressure and importance of this academic phase in their lives.

Key Achievements

Graduating students: Three students graduated this year. One student graduated from medical college after 6 years of study in China. She says: "I am so happy to share with you that I have finally graduated! I have returned home proudly holding a medical degree that I worked very hard to achieve. I am truly grateful for the financial support and generosity you have provided me. Without your help, I would never be able to reach this milestone or hold this medical degree in my hands."

Two students have also completed their studies with a B.Sc Agriculture and a B.A. in Political Science in India.

Improved English proficiency: Several first-year students have made noticeable strides in spoken English, enhancing their classroom engagement and confidence.

Leadership in action: One student was appointed Assistant Secretary of the International Student Fellowship — testament to their growing leadership skills and community involvement.

Outstanding representation: We are proud to share that one student was selected to represent Mizoram students in a prestigious internship programme, chosen from among only four total representatives.

Livelihoods and disaster resilience

While much of our resources are allocated to short term emergency relief and health care, we are turning our focus to include development of sustainable livelihoods and disaster preparedness and response, with the goal of supporting community resilience.

Late last year we were delighted to launch a new three-year project working in partnership with 30 target communities, the project will develop the capacity of the local community to prepare, respond to and reduce the impact of disasters and support the implementation of Climate Smart Agriculture practices for 100 farmers families and non-agricultural skills training for 50 women headed households.

We hope you are inspired by all that our courageous teams have accomplished over recent months. Thank you for continuing to stand with us and the people of Myanmar.