Help for Myanmar

The Ko Wing Naing family sits inside their modest home while heavy rain pours outside. During the wet reason, the roads in Myanmar - also known as Burma - transform into muddy paths that are difficult to walk on. The family lives in a village known as Ka La Chaung in the west of the country. Until a few months ago, they had to use a communal toilet, located some distance away - or, in more urgent cases, they had to find a place outside the house for their "private business."

Thanks to the help provided by relief organization Malteser International, this has changed. The organization gave the family members a start-up kit and had them instructed on how to construct their own toilet.

Helping people to help themselves - this kind of aid is provided by 320 members of Malteser International around Myanmar, mostly in villages. Apart from setting up sanitary facilities, they organize medical services, clean drinking water and preparations for natural disasters.

Political upheavals

Parallel to the improvement in the Naing family's living conditions, unexpected reforms were taking place in Myanmar, initiated in 2010. Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest, political prisoners were set free, and media censorship was relaxed. The country's new president, Thein Sein, elected in early 2011, is working towards opening Myanmar up. Gerhard Will from the Berlin-based German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) describes the new politics as "change on a large scale."

However, according to Johannes Kaltenbach from Malteser International, the new political situation is having little effect on the lives of people in Myanmar's villages. The biggest obstacles are the country's centralized structure and excessive bureaucracy, which make reforms difficult to implement.

A chance to help

Nevertheless, experts say that the recent changes create a new perspective for development cooperation. This should involve industrialized nations supporting the country on its path to democracy and in combating poverty.

"If the west reacts accordingly, there is a chance of further reforms and liberalization," said Klaus Wild, Germany's ambassador to Myanmar between 2002 and 2005. "Already now, Germany is in a position to do a lot more."

Following the violent suppression of Myanmar's pro-democracy movement in 1988, Germany greatly reduced its development aid activities in the country. EU-imposed political and economic sanctions on Myanmar have been in place since 1990, reinforced by the EU's common policy since 1996. Apart from banning the export of weapons and freezing the foreign bank accounts of Myanmar's politicians, a decision was also made to ban development cooperation in areas other than healthcare, education, environment, civic culture, the advancement of democracy and government.

Myanmar experts like Jasmin Lorch believe that Germany can do more for the country, and that the current scope for development aid is not being fully exploited. Klaus Wild also sees a need for the German government to do more.

"In the past, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development took an approach that was too easy," said Wild. "It said: 'There are now sanctions against Myanmar - let's cross this country off the list.' For a long time, supporting Myanmar was perhaps not seen as immoral, but it didn't enjoy a good reputation either."

According to data provided by the German Foreign Office, Germany allocates 10 million euros ($13.2 million) to development projects in Myanmar annually. In comparison, the UK provides over three times as much.

Money plays a role

"The people in Myanmar are very involved in implementing the projects," said Kaltenbach. "Every small increase in resources produces results quickly."

In addition, Wild sees an increase in financial support as "a gesture towards the section of the government that's open to reforms."

The toilet for the Naing family cost 30 euros. Sanitary facilites are a step towards a better life. But the people of Myanmar hope for many other improvements too, including greater democracy and more development aid.

Author: Rodion Ebbighausen / ew
Editor:Anke Rasper