"NATIONAL SOCIETY PROFILE: The Myanmar Red Cross Society is the oldest humanitarian organisation in Myanmar. It began its operations in 1920 as a branch of the Indian Red Cross. After Burma formally separated from India in 1937, the Society obtained official national status and was admitted to the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in 1946. The role of the National Society, as enshrined in the Myanmar Red Cross Society Law 2015, mentions it serves independently and voluntarily as the auxiliary strength of the State in the humanitarian field, in accordance with the Red Cross Red Crescent Fundamental Principles. The Myanmar Red Cross Society has an extensive reach and operates through 65 district branches, and branches in each of the country’s 330 townships. The National Society also counts with 17 supervisory committees (states, regions and Naypyitaw Union Territory), and has branches in universities, colleges, and sub-branches at town, ward, village tract and schools across the country. The Myanmar Red Cross Society Strategic Plan (2021-2025) sets the following three goals: Build healthier and safer communities, reduce their vulnerabilities and strengthen their resilience Promote understanding and respect for the Red Cross Principles, Humanitarian Values, and International Humanitarian Law as a means to promoting social cohesion and non-violence Strengthen understanding of the Myanmar Red Cross’s auxiliary role among the humanitarian sector by developing a strong, well-functioning and resourceful National Society. According to its Strategic Plan, 2021–2025, with partner support, the Myanmar Red Cross aims to equip Red Cross volunteers, state, region and township branches and the national headquarters with the technical, financial and material resources “to be a well-functioning National Society with the capacity of providing humanitarian services to the most vulnerable people in Myanmar and beyond”. The National Society plans to extend its traditional emergency response activities – including the delivery of ambulance and first aid services, primary health care, water, sanitation and hygiene services, psychosocial support and protection – while also developing its preparedness through disaster risk reduction, anticipatory action and resilience building. To support these ambitions, the National Society plans to enhance its institutional capacity through branch development and decentralization, volunteer and youth management and capacity building, resource mobilization and human resource management, and partnership frameworks..."