Welcome
Burma Humanitarian Mission is an all-volunteer non-profit organization dedicated to address the humanitarian and healthcare crisis in Burma. We achieve our aims through supporting backpack medics who administer village healthcare services in Karen State and by documenting our missions using photography and video to share the voice of the peoples of Burma with the world.
Since 1999, Burma Humanitarian Mission has trained backpack medics and provided them with basic medicines and supplies. The backpack medics hike into eastern Burma to provide immediate trauma care and long-term health care to Karen and other ethnic groups who have suffered the Burmese junta's repression. The junta routinely shoot men and boys, rape women and girls and burn Karen villages. Thousands of Karen have fled and hide in the jungles or relocated to camps in Thailand. While landmine or gunshot wounds may be the most traumatic, the enduring threat is malnutrition and disease -- malaria, worms, diarrhea, TB and other preventable illnesses. One in 5 Karen children die before the age of 5; Karen mothers have a maternal mortality rate 10 times that of neighboring Thai mothers. Burma Humanitarian Mission is dedicated to mitigating these risks.
Since Cyclone NARGIS swept through the country and Karen State, these conditions have worsened. The junta diverted international aid to primarily their supporters.
Thank you for visiting our site to learn more about what we do, why it is needed and what you can do.
Mission Report
Friends,
We have returned once again from an inspiring visit to the Thai-Burma border. During this year’s travel to the region, we provided nearly a half million doses of medicine – enough to support 14 of the Backpack medics 78 teams in the field! Through your kindness and support, we more than doubled what Burma Humanitarian Mission could provide this year. In addition, we funded a full 6 month medic training program for 30 new community health workers.
During our visit, we learned that SPDC violence in Karen State continues. Nine of the 19 areas the backpack medics serve had active fighting or increased military oppression over the past year.
In 2 of these regions, the DKBA joined with the regime to oppress the Karen’s desire for freedom and peace. The SPDC still burns villages and fields, arbitrarily shoot-on-sight Karen men and employ rape as a weapon of intimidation in addition to denying medical, education, economic and social support. Sadly, in 2008, 2 backpack medics were killed and another one arrested.
In the face of these conditions, the backpack medics treat diseases, injuries and illnesses that are too familiar to us. Malaria remains the leading killer. In addition, the medics address the effects caused by an unstable living environment that results in acute respiratory infection, worms, anemia, and diarrhea in painful, if not lethal, conditions. Click here to read all the most recent mission reports.
Upcoming BMH Events
Join in a fun, fit and fantastic event! Join the ‘Run for Burma’ team. We are a charity partner in the San Francisco marathon, half marathon and 5k taking place on July 26th 2009. We are also a charity partner in the Marine Corps marathon and 10k on October 25th in Washington DC. These are wonderful opportunities for you to help raise awareness and critical funds for helping the Karen. Teams are forming now. Click here to find out how you can join us!