Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is the second largest country in Southeast Asia. Myanmar borders Thailand, Laos, China, India and Bangladesh. Long years of military dictatorship have shaped the country. It is rich in natural resources, yet it remains one of the least developed countries in the world. And although Myanmar has made great strides in the area of food security, more than a quarter of the population still lives in poverty, and about one-third of all children under the age of five are chronically malnourished.

Myanmar is regularly hit by disasters, especially natural disasters such as cyclones or earthquakes, and floods also threaten people and animals. Since 2002, more than 13 million people in Myanmar have been affected by natural disasters. But armed conflicts also complicate everyday life in many regions. Hundreds of thousands of people live as internally displaced persons without permanent shelter, and more than 1 million people are dependent on humanitarian aid.

Although the illiteracy rate is relatively low compared to other countries, only about 50% of all children finish their schooling. Girls are more likely to be out of school than boys because they have to help with the housework.

Medical care in Myanmar is not available nationwide and standards are low. As a result, Myanmar also has a high maternal and infant mortality rate. 282 out of 100,000 women die during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. A high number of patients with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis also poses a major challenge for the country.