Within 72 hours of the deadly March 28 earthquake in Myanmar, Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) was on the ground. For well over a decade, we've protected communities in highly conflicted areas of the country- training people to spot early signs of violence and safely accompanying those fleeing, especially women and children. Now in disaster-hit Sagaing and Mandalay, we're ensuring life-saving aid reaches the most vulnerable-while preventing further harm.
Myanmar has already been fractured by civil war and now is responding to a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that killed thousands, destroyed infrastructure including safe shelter, pipelines that provided water, bridges and roads to access food. Sagaing is one of the areas that was hit, already had 1.5 million internally displaced people due to the conflict. Myanmar faces a complex issue in needing aid to respond to the disaster but also faces safety needs stemming from years of violent conflict.
Nonviolent Peaceforce has been a trusted partner on the ground since 2012, while many international organizations do not have access to support civilians who are most vulnerable. In working with our partners, we are identifying areas where aid is most needed, and working to ensure that aid is distributed equitably and inclusively and in a way that prevents further harm or conflict. Our organization also continues to protect lives directly by accompanying people to safety.
Long-term, our organization is committed to building a sustained presence for peace at the grassroots level. We're training local civilians to lead safe, community-based disaster response efforts-ensuring aid reaches the most vulnerable. We're also supporting the creation of safe spaces for women and children, led by the communities themselves, and helping people recognize early warning signs of conflict so they can respond with preparedness and resilience.
