New Dawn relief

Project background

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

Although 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 is not sufficient to sustain them.

The food banks provide a revolving store of rice and other essential food items which is provided to refugee and vulnerable households at a significantly subsidised cost. They are managed locally by a small leadership committee.

Recent activity

Sadly there has been a further influx of displaced people into the border areas and emergency support is required in addition to the re-stocking of all six food banks which will be completed this month (June). Our teams in both locations have been preparing supplies and planning distribution to the areas in most need. Funds from generous donors and accumulated from the foodbanks themselves mean that all food banks will be re-stocked and a limited supply of emergency food rations can be distributed. This activity will take place in June and early July. This will be difficult given the persistent monsoon rain. 

Food surveys will be conducted among beneficiary communities to assess food security and levels of malnutrition. We will continue to support the Food banks through 2026 as funds allow. During this time we will re-evaluate whether the project will continue beyond this point.

Our continued grateful appreciation for supporting this work in this forgotten and unseen crisis. 

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.