The Humanitarian Forum, one of the programmes of the 23rd Southeast Asia Red Cross Red Crescent Leaders Meeting, hosted by the Myanmar Red Cross Society, was held this morning at the Wyndham Grand Hotel in Yangon. The event was attended by MRCS President Professor Dr. Myo Nyunt, Vice President Dr. Daw Tin Tin Lay, Executive Committee members, leaders of Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies from Southeast Asian countries, and representatives from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Partner National Societies, and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre).

During the first session of the Forum, a panel discussion entitled “Partnership for Collective Impact” was held, moderated by the President of the Myanmar Red Cross Society. Professor Dr. Tin Maung Hlaing, Executive Committee Member of the Myanmar Red Cross Society; Dr. Cordula Droege, Director of International Law, Movement and Partnership (Geneva) at the ICRC; and Mr. Sanjeev Kafley, Head of Delegation (Myanmar) of the IFRC, discussed strengthening cooperation among countries in the region, enhancing the role of National Societies in humanitarian response, and developing better linkages and
cooperation between the AHA Centre and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

During the second session of the Forum, group discussions entitled “Innovations in Humanitarian Actions” were led by the Myanmar Red Cross Society, the ICRC, and the IFRC. Discussions focused on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in disaster management, the role of digital transformation in making humanitarian operations more effective and efficient, strategic approaches to responding to misinformation, and maintaining information integrityduring emergencies.

The Humanitarian Action Forum, an annual high-level regional platform held alongside the Southeast Asia Red Cross Red Crescent Leaders Meeting, was held for the second time this year. The first Forum was held alongside the 22nd Southeast Asia Red Cross Red Crescent Leaders Meeting in Malaysia.

As the Southeast Asia region faces complex and evolving humanitarian challenges, including natural disasters, public health emergencies, displacement, and the increasingly severe impacts of climate change, the Forum was organized to exchange humanitarian experiences and best practices in the region, discuss key issues, and identify opportunities for stronger cooperation among Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies and collective humanitarian action in the region.

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