On World Humanitarian Day 2020 we are raising awareness of the complex, protracted crisis in Myanmar and of those who have been suffering for decades from ongoing conflict and natural disasters. The COVID-19 pandemic this year has only exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in the country, affecting people’s jobs, livelihoods and their ability to survive.

COVID-19 lockdowns and the closures of businesses in Myanmar and neighbouring countries has meant that many people have lost their jobs. Migrant workers and IDPs who used to earn money through daily labouring jobs have been particularly hard hit. Over 100,000 migrant workers have returned to Myanmar and gone into hundreds of quarantine centres that have been set up across the country.

As fund managers for the DFID Humanitarian Assistance Resilience Programme Facility, we manage over 42 grants with 23 local partners, aiming to meet humanitarian needs, build resilience and reduce vulnerability of affected populations. We sat down with our partners from Mercy Corps, Centre for Social Integrity and Health Poverty Action to discuss the widespread impact of coronavirus on humanitarian programming and the acute situation in country.