People with disabilities in Arakan State face severe livelihood hardships amid ongoing conflict

By Admin 04 Mar 2026

DMG Newsroom

4 March 2026, Mrauk-U

Civilians in Arakan State who have been left with physical, auditory, and visual impairments due to the military regime’s airstrikes are struggling to survive amid extreme hardships and limited assistance.

Those living with disabilities face immense challenges across health, livelihoods, and social support, while also enduring significant physical and psychological trauma.

“In the past, I climbed the mountains every day to cut wood and harvest bamboo shoots to support my elderly mother and young son. Now I cannot even prepare snacks on my own. I have to buy them from others to sell for a small profit,” said Daw Wai Mar, a 33-year-old disabled woman from Ahtet Lay Hnyin Taung Village, Mrauk-U Township.

She lost a leg when the regime dropped two 500-pound bombs on her village on 21 March 2024, killing five civilians and wounding 12 others.

Airstrikes in Arakan State occur almost monthly, increasing both casualties and the number of people living with disabilities. Many survivors receive little to no post-conflict support, including rehabilitation or financial assistance.

“Immediately after the incident, one organization offered minimal help, but nothing since. I lost my husband in the bombing. My business is ruined, my marriage shattered, and my body broken. I have no aspirations left,” said a 51-year-old woman who was injured during an airstrike in Kyauktaw on 10 October 2024.

Despite losing the use of one arm, she continues running a small flour-grinding business to sustain herself.

Another young woman disabled in the Kyauktaw bombing said she initially lost confidence and feared going out in public, but perseveres for her family’s sake.

The disabled population includes women, children, and heads of households, who struggle to survive amid job scarcity and rising commodity prices. Social organizations warn that the legal rights of people with disabilities in Myanmar are largely neglected, particularly regarding employment opportunities.

Advocates stress that beyond physical and psychological healing, civil society and local communities must work together to help these individuals rebuild independent lives.