Rethinking humanitarian space

Abstract

This study looks at the humanitarian space in Myanmar which includes not just the humanitarian operations in the country, the access to volatile zones by the humanitarian organisations, the humanitarian principles, but also a space which permits a complementary arrangement of diverse actors holding different positions and skill sets and deliver to those in need. The study is based on the practical experiences and reflections of these different actors on field and their operations in different regions in order to gauge a more informed approach to the humanitarian space in the country.

Following the lifting of international economic sanctions on the country as well as the general elections in November 2015, Myanmar is in transition. It moves swiftly towards economic, social and political developments, although the country is still caught up in a post-conflict scenario amongst different ethnic communities and the military junta. An important development is the opening up of spaces in the country to express dissent, injustice and abuse of human rights. While a lot of this has to do with the intervention of international community in the country as the study explores, it is also noteworthy to acknowledge the self-building capacity of the locals through technology and social media.

The study observes the humanitarian space and its components such as international humanitarian principles and legal frameworks as well as the transition of temporary assistance and protection to long-term recovery measures. The study assesses it from the points of view of different actors in the humanitarian space through the fieldwork in Yangon, the former capital city of Myanmar.