New Dawn relief

New Dawn Food Banks Project

Background of the project

It has been three years since Health & Hope Myanmar (HHM) opened food banks in the five most concentrated refugee camps where some 3,218 refugees live on the Myanmar border in Siaha district, Mizoram State.

Although there is some limited support from organisations to these refugees, most support is offered only once or twice a year because the Indian government has not recognised the status of these communities as refugees, and some Indian NGOs are facing scrutiny from the government (e.g. bank account suspension).

Although the host communities have been generous in lending their land for farming, only limited areas are available for refugees to cultivate, and for the majority of the refugees, the crop production from these lands alone will not be sufficient to sustain them.

Food Bank and food grants

Between April 2025 and January 2026, HHM restocked the five food banks three times and delivered food grants once to a refugee camp. A total of 1,490 people benefited from the food banks, and 474 persons benefited from food grants. One food bank became self-sustaining and hence HHM has terminated food programmes in November 2025.

Over the year, HHM delivered a total of 1,110 rice bags, 70 dal bags, and 181 cases of cooking oil to targeted communities.

Health and referral for emergency patients

HHM has treated 223 outpatients and provided cash assistance for 38 patients who needed urgent treatment or hospitalisation from the referral programme. Additionally, £611.97 worth of medicines were delivered to 5 refugee camps.

Survey

The survey aims to determine whether the refugee community will produce enough food for 2026 and whether the food bank is still required to restock food.

The survey was conducted by 5 food bank establishments selecting 20% of families in each camp. Some of the results included:

• The survey results showed that 42% of the respondents answered, YES that their yearly income from their farm will be secured for their families year-round, and 58% answered, NO.
• The results show that 42% are consuming 1 rice bag per month, 39% and 19% are consuming 2 and more than 2 per month respectively.
• 100% of the respondents answered that they were able to purchase food items from food bank in their camp.
• The assessment result shows that 100% of respondents say that the food bank in the camp works well.
• 100% of the respondents answered that they want to continue the food bank project in 2026.

Testimonial

“My name is Thandar (name changed), single mother of 5 children; it has been four years since we arrived in the refugee camp. Thank you for choosing me for this interview, I always wanted to thank personally to you all. My husband died during air strikes in Lailenpi 2023. The people have been so kind to our family. In the first year, 2023, I lost all hope, thinking that I am the only one to take care of this big family. When my husband is alive, he usually does the carpenter work and I have a farm. I never expected to face this kind of hardship in our family; the earnings of my husband and the crops from the farm were actually enough for one year.

Even though I lost all hope, the people have shown their kindness, and of course we are the family that always benefited from this food bank, not only that, but my children were also able to go to school because of your support. The leaders of this food bank always give us free of charges, but when we have some income from my daily wages, I insisted on contributing. Without this food bank, my family would have faced huge challenges to live in. I heard that this project is draining your fund to do other great things in Myanmar site, but I personally beg you to please continue, don't make it go away and restock more frequently.

Thank you, God bless, you all.”

Huge thanks from us too at Health & Hope for your continued support which is making such a big difference to the lives of vulnerable Myanmar communities.

Activity since July

Since our last report in July, we are pleased to share that one of our seven food banks has now closed. This is a sign that families in that community are able to meet their own nutritional needs. This is the true measure of success for our work: to empower communities until our support is no longer needed.

Other community feedback in the remaining sites indicates that the food banks are an essential source of support and we are planning a re-stock of all sites in the coming weeks. 

The context within Myanmar continues to remain extremely unstable, with internal conflict between resistance groups, and increasing numbers of airstrikes on civilian populations from the Myanmar military. Displacement of communities across the border, sadly continues and therefore we will continue to provide support where we can and as funds allow. 

November 2025 - immediate plans

We are now in advanced planning to re-stock all six remaining food banks, in operation in the border areas, serving displaced families and preventing malnutrition among vulnerable groups. This will also include issuing food grants (rice, dal and oil) to vulnerable families who cannot access the food banks directly. We will provide medical care through our own health team, treating patients in their communities or referring to hospitals where more advanced care is required. 

Despite the good news in closing one of our food banks, our surveys earlier this year indicated that in most communities families were adopting negative coping strategies, and that additional nutritional support is still essential. 

New Dawn future

We will continue to monitor the needs in the communities we are serving. Our aim is to gradually withdraw support and enable the food banks to continue sustaninably. 

Thank you for your continued support.