Myanmar is exposed to a number of natural disasters, reports Mizzima. GCR ranked Myanmar for the period 1995-2014 alongside Honduras and Haiti as the countries with the highest risk. A crucial area in which steps are being taken to prepare is the threat posed by earthquakes. Such efforts in earthquake preparedness and messaging are crucial for Myanmar given the ever-present dangers posed by quakes.
To help combat future problems, in 2012, UNOCHA supported the development of the Disaster Management Law that passed in August 2013 as well as the Disaster Management Rules which were finalized in April 2015. Efforts are being made by to support awareness and training to help the Myanmar public in the case of a serious earthquake. One particular project is supported by UN-Habitat – through the Myanmar Consortium for Community Resilience, under the European Commission Humanitarian Aid department’s Disaster Preparedness Programme – and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.