COUNTRY OVERVIEW "Burma, also called Myanmar, is a mountainous country in Southeast Asia with an extensive coastline and an estimated population of 51.4 million people. The country is inherently prone to extreme weather events, including floods, cyclones , tsunami s , heavy monsoon rains, flood s , storm surges and drought . For example, t he 2008 Cy clone Nargis resulted in 138,000 fatalities. Climate change increases the frequency and severity of extreme weather events and poses new threats from rising seas, food and water insecuri ty, and public health outbreaks. The majority of Burma?s population an d principal economic activities are concentrated in coastal and low - lying zones vulnerable to sea level rise and increased storm surge . For example, if sea level were to rise by a half meter, the shoreline of the Ayeyarwad d y Delta ? the country?s main rice producer ? would recede by 10 km . Burma?s economy, largely dependent on natural resources (mining, forestry, fishing) and rice production , would also be at risk from higher temperatures and increased precipitation variability . Afte r 50 years of military rule , Burma transitioned to a civilian government in 2011 and is at a historic stage in its development , pursuing p olitical and econo mic reforms. Climate change, compounded by high levels of poverty, high exposure to natural hazards , and low capacity to respond to those hazards , could undermine the country?s development efforts and economic progress if not addressed..."