ICCROM Director-General Aruna Francesca Maria Gujral had the honour of welcoming H.E. Mrs. Hmway Hmway Khyne, Ambassador of Myanmar to Italy, on 30 April 2025.
The visit came in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar on 9 April 2025, causing extensive damage to infrastructure, including heritage buildings, and disrupting the living heritage closely linked to these sites. During the meeting, the Ambassador and the Director-General explored concrete avenues for collaboration through ICCROM’s technical assistance on the ground to respond to this profound loss and begin the path to recovery.
As a technical organization dedicated to cultural heritage protection, ICCROM reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Member States in times of crisis through its flagship First Aid and Resilience for Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis (FAR) Programme. With a global network of over 2,000 trained cultural first aiders in 122 countries and proven methodologies, ICCROM stands ready to respond when cultural heritage is at risk.
ICCROM places strong emphasis on understanding the nature and extent of damage, prioritizing interventions, empowering local communities, and strengthening local response capacities. Knowledge transfer and cascading training models are at the heart of ICCROM’s approach, ensuring a sustainable impact on the ground closer to the people's needs.
Myanmar and ICCROM share a longstanding relationship. After the 2016 earthquake, ICCROM provided emergency support at the Bagan site, including damage assessments, stabilization measures, and in-crisis training for local professionals and communities.
Looking ahead, as agreed between Director-General Gujral, Ambassador H.E. Khyne, ICCROM will provide its technical assistance in close collaboration and coordination with the Government of Myanmar. This support will encompass not only response and recovery efforts but also risk mitigation and preparedness initiatives to build resilience and protect Myanmar’s invaluable heritage for future generations.
Director-General Gujral expressed ICCROM’s deep solidarity with Myanmar and its people, reaffirming the organization’s full support during this time of urgent need.