As a multi-ethnic developing country, the conflict between the Myanmar military and armed groups in ethnic minority areas has never ceased since its independence. Since the 1990s, CEDAR has cooperated with Myanmar Christian partners to carry out nationwide rescue and development projects in many regions and empowered community residents to respond to humanitarian and development needs.
We provide comprehensive livelihood support and peacebuilding initiatives to impoverished people displaced by conflict in areas such as Yangon, Karen State, Kachin State, Mon State, and the Ayeyarwaddy region. In northern Kachin State, we provide multi-faceted support for people experiencing poverty displaced by the war. We also provide informal education to children and youth living in the slums or with low-income families.
We also promote community development throughout the country, including setting up community centres in Yangon slums to serve poor local families and provide microloans. Under the pandemic and political instability threat, we further provide food aid, COVID-19 protection and emergency cash assistance. In addition, given the serious problem of human trafficking in Myanmar, we combat human trafficking in three aspects: saving victims, assisting the recovery of the victimised women’s bodies and minds and maturing their livelihood, and contacting potential victims through outreach work and drop-in centre to provide body check, medical and emergency assistance.
