Myanmar: Restoring hope to families of the missing

I started my assignment on Myanmar in April 2023, and since arriving Yangon in May 2023, I was fortunate in the months that followed to visit other states and regions where we had offices and activities; Nay Pyi Taw, Mandalay, Lashio, Myitikyina and Sittwe. 

At the time I wrote this piece, it was just shy of two years since I arrived Myanmar and reflecting on my time there, there was a lot to say, as my mission was anything but straight forward. 

In 2021, a military coup happened and was widely covered. This coup has had far reaching consequences on the humanitarian landscape in Myanmar; limited access, a shrinking humanitarian space and uncertainty with operations given the security constraints.

With the intensification of the conflict in Myanmar since late 2023 and the resulting humanitarian consequences, many families lost contact with a loved one. Protection of Family Links (PFL) is a part of the Protection work we do at the ICRC. The goal is to provide answers to family members separated from their loved ones due to conflict, detention, migration or natural disasters. When we are able, we reunite families with missing loves ones, especially children. The part of reunification is always a joy to behold and to be part of.

Security considerations have changed drastically and visits to our offices are not as easy as they once were. It took me over a year to make it to Rakhine state for example, located in West Myanmar, where we have the biggest caseload for the programmes I oversee. As the plane landed on the wet runway during the cyclone season, finally! I thought to myself - I made it to Sittwe, this part of the country I had been trying to get to for over a year.

The Rohingya crisis caught the world's attention and this crisis resulted in mass fleeing to different countries notably Bangladesh, which hosts at least 1.8 million refugees from Rakhine state according to the UN. The state where the Rohingya are native to is Rakhine state with Sittwe as its capital. At first glance, one would judge that there is a sense of normalcy in Sittwe. But as the drive continues into town, barriers, roadblocks, sandbags begin to give an indication of the true picture.

The streets of Sittwe

Operation 1027, a military offensive against the junta led by 3 armed groups that coined the term “Three Brotherhood Alliance” comprised of Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Arakan Army (AA), hoping to overthrow the regime, took place in 2 phases; in October 2023 and June 2024. Military bases were overrun, and towns were taken over in Shan state, Eastern Myanmar, bordering China, Laos and Thailand. The impact of closed borders by China was felt around the country as dependence on the supply of many groceries and products is heavy. The supply dwindled with a good number not being available at all in supermarkets.

Heavy fighting took place and raids unfortunately were quite brutal, with civilians bearing the brunt of the many incursions. From Central to Southeast Myanmar as well as other parts of the country, air strikes, drone strikes, and targeted operations were not uncommon. Unfortunately, we also heard of mines and weapon contaminated areas, leading to people losing limbs and parts of their bodies once they stepped on these devices. The conflict in Myanmar is one of the most fragmented, with numerous non state armed groups operating in different parts of the country. The spread of intercommunal violence happens at such a rapid pace and can hardly be halted once it starts.

A lot is shrouded in secrecy, people wake up to realise that neighbours, loved ones have disappeared and they know too well what that signifies. Death could be looming, or it might take years before they see or hear from them again, highlighting the work we do in protecting family links. Although we are unable to search for people in the usual way we do in Myanmar, due to limited access to many areas, we find ways to contribute to restoring hope for families. One out of many stories of our work in Myanmar was featured : Myanmar: One priceless phone call keeps hope alive | ICRC and also highlighted as part of the Forgotten Crisis series in Australia : Myanmar: A Story of a Mother Revealing the Significance of Family Connections.

Speaking with a colleague as tension built in her city, I asked if she was not afraid that it would take over her city. She said she knew it would come eventually but for some reason, she wasn't scared as she knew they would live through it. I marveled at the bravery she displayed. Knowing that she and her family could be displaced at any moment yet giving her best to work with no plans to flee.

Some other colleagues lost their houses during shelling and mass destruction separated them from their families, but they showed up to work providing a listening ear and succor to others like them in the situation they knew too well as they lived through and with it. 

Maya Angelou’s words come to mind. “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” We may not always have immediate responses to the people we receive at our offices, but a listening ear is sometimes all they need. And we have been told how appreciative many affected people are of our ability to be there for them in their moments of anguish.

On rare occasions, people found out about the death of loved ones from reports which was heart breaking to see. The mental energy required from our local colleagues is enormous as the situation across the country weighs heavy on them and their families.

A volunteer we worked with, who ended up being a beneficiary of our activities, fled from attacks on his town with his family. They only had the clothes on their backs. At the time I was speaking to him, he had fled for the 5^th time and was planning to leave again as there were rumours on possible attacks to the current village where they were. But in his words, “I love the work we do of restoring family links as I see the joy it brings to people to hear of their loved ones. I can’t imagine how my life would be without my family with me through this difficult time.”

I was fortunate to carry out house visits to deliver news to some families. One that struck me was a family who were unaware of the whereabouts of their loved one for 2 years. As we mentioned his name, you could see the anxiety on their faces and one of the family members was eager and nudged us to get to the point. When we mentioned that we met him in a prison, the anxious family was overjoyed to hear that their brother was alive, his sister burst into tears when the team mentioned there was news from him. She later said that when we called his name, her first thought was that the worst had happened, and he was no longer alive. No news from family members takes an emotional toll on the ones waiting and it is palpable for the team when we meet with families. I am reassured by situations like these that our work indeed makes a difference.

Delivering news of a missing loved one

As a result of our meeting with some of these families, they found out about our Family Visit Programme and came by the office for support. One family kept expressing profuse thanks to the ICRC, as they had not seen their detained family member in 10 years. The ICRC provides support towards transport and travel costs to enable families visit their detained loved ones around the country. Similarly, when detained persons are released from detention, we provide support with transport costs to help them return home to their loved ones. All these programmes fall within the framework of the our protection of family links programme.

Delivering and collecting messages

A conscription law was enacted in April 2024, for people between the ages of 18 and 35, causing a mass exodus of young people within that age bracket. A clime of fear slowly settled over the country. In Yangon, between May 2023 and early 2025, the difference was clear, nights used to have more activity, but even though the curfew was later than before, people preferred to get home early. Insecurity sits heavy with people, so they prefer not to take risks. Reports of people going out and not returning were not uncommon, sadly leaving families in uncertainty about the whereabouts of their loved ones.

Beyond the conflict, Myanmar is prone to natural disasters. I was there when cyclone mocha made landfall in 2023, I witnessed the flooding caused by cyclone Nagis during the monsoon season in 2024 and finally I happened to be there when the earthquake hit in early 2025. All these compound the already existing issues leading to more food shortage, health and shelter needs. The current estimate of displaced persons by the UN stands at a staggering number of 3 million persons. Across the region, there has been an increasing awareness for the relevance of diplomatic interventions. But the question remains on how relevant it might be.

A part of the team

As I walk on the streets, I am greeted with smiles through betel nut-stained teeth, and I wonder what hope there is for these people. A country so beautiful, yet one that carries a dark story. The humanitarian aid the ICRC provides might be a few drops in the ocean in the grand scheme of things, but makes a difference regardless. Obstructing that aid only takes hope further away from the people of Myanmar.

A revised version of this piece was published on the ICRC website.