Myanmar
Rakhine State
Myanmar is one of the lesser developed countries in Asia holding an estimated population of 53 million people. The country has been plagued by high levels of poverty for decades. According to a report by the Asian Development Bank in 2015, 32% of the population is estimated to be living below the national poverty line. Poverty is twice as high in rural areas where 70% of the population lives. The remote border areas, mainly populated by Myanmar’s minority ethnic groups, and areas emerging from conflict are particularly poor.
Electrification rate is extremely poor in Myanmar, with only 57% of the population having access to electricity. This phenomenon is worse for the rural villages in Myanmar, with only 39.8% of the rural population having access to electricity as these areas are not mainly connected to the power grid.
The Rakhine State is one of Myanmar’s poorest and least developed areas, worse off than any other regions in terms of access to electricity. This is due to the adverse effects of frequent cyclones and surrounding conflict.
Since the outbreak of inter-communal violence in 2012, the poverty situation in the Rakhine State has worsened significantly. Thousands of people have been displaced from their homes and are suffering from food insecurity, heavy damage to infrastructures, interrupted livelihoods and education, as well as a lack of access to markets.
Because only 39.8% of the rural population in Myanmar has access to electricity, the establishment of this project has brought hope to the remaining 60% of Burmese. Starlight's goal is to ensure at least 70% of those who do not have access to electricity receive sustainable lighting from our solar bottle bulbs.