My name is Hideo Ino, I am the new President of the BHN Association, hereafter referred to as BHN. BHN, a certified NPO, will celebrate its 30th anniversary in September 2022. BHN was established in September 1992 based on the belief that telecommunication is one of the basic human needs (one of the elements such as food, clothing and shelter that make up the necessities of life). The fact that we have been able to continue our activities for the past 30 years is due to the support and cooperation of many people, including the Government of Japan and many corporate and individual members. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of you.
The ethos of BHN chimes with my own set of beliefs, so, when I got the chance to join BHN over two years ago, I jumped at the chance. Since then, I have been involved in the project "Electrification of Housing for Conflict Victims" which is in operation in Myanmar. During that time, the project's operations were greatly affected by the coup d'état by the national army in February 2021, as well as the substantial lockdown due to the corona pandemic.
At the same time, however, information from the media and local staff, both inside and outside the country, made me keenly aware of the anxieties and fears of the people of Myanmar about their security and health, and how distressed they were by the breakdown of their daily lives. Looking at the world, the UNHCR reports that the number of refugees worldwide has exceeded 100 million, and the sad reality is that the number of people seeking help is increasing even further, which really brings home the feeling that the role of BHN is increasing both at home and abroad.
BHN is determined to continue to enhance its activities based on the experience and knowledge gained through the support and cooperation we have received from many people over the past 30 years. We look forward to your continued support and cooperation in the future.