For over two years, the Corona pandemic has hampered our project work in Myanmar. Then, more than a year ago, the military coup in Myanmar completely isolated the country. Our help could only take place digitally. Now, finally, there was a reunion in Bangkok, Thailand, between Dr. Veronika Hofmann and Michael Kneis and the Burmese project leaders Thang Min Len and Su Myat OO.

German gynecologist Dr. Beate Vollmer was the last person to be able to work at the Irrawaddy River Doctors was able to do so. However, she was forced to involuntarily abandon it due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic. We were hopeful that once the pandemic had been contained, it would soon be possible to resume missions, so we started planning for 2021 full of confidence.

However, on 1 February 2022, the generals in Myanmar couped their way to power. Since then, the country has descended into chaos - over 1500 people have been killed and the UN estimates that over 9000 people remain in custody. Even today, more than a year after the coup, the situation has hardly eased: A state of emergency is still in place and the people are oppressed by the rulers - the junta. Protests are violently suppressed and the ousted head of government and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was given another prison sentence in January. The politically extremely tense situation was compounded by further corona outbreaks, and entry was impossible for foreigners for a long time.

Travel warnings remain in place for the country and entry for foreigners is currently only possible in exceptional cases after a case-by-case decision by the Burmese authorities. Until further notice, entry visas will only be issued in urgent exceptional cases. In addition, every traveller must complete a five-day quarantine in a government-designated hotel.

After much deliberation, a meeting was planned in Bangkok in neighboring Thailand, in particular to hand over an ultrasound machine for the newly opened mother and child center in Bogale as well as other materials that are not available in Myanmar . Both sides were delighted to see each other again, and even though digital contact has never been broken off, nothing can replace a face-to-face meeting. Invigorated, with new plans and a lot of new energy, the parties returned to their countries - confident that a reunion will soon be possible in Myanmar .