One-third of Myanmar population in need of humanitarian aid: UN agency

By Admin 19 Dec 2023

DMG Newsroom
19 December 2023, Sittwe

Three years on from the military takeover, Myanmar’s humanitarian landscape for 2024 looks grim, with one-third of the population — 18.6 million people — now estimated to be in humanitarian need, UNOCHA Myanmar said in a statement on December 18.

Children are bearing the brunt of the crisis, with 6 million children in need as a result of displacement, interrupted healthcare and education, food insecurity and malnutrition, and protection risks including forced recruitment and mental distress, the UNOCHA Myanmar statement said.

The economic situation is placing families in increasing financial distress and coping capacities are stretched to the limit. Interruptions to agriculture and rapid inflation are making it increasingly difficult for people to access and afford adequate food, raising the spectre of climbing malnutrition, the UNOCHA Myanmar statement added.

The 18.6 million people who are currently in need of humanitarian assistance is 1 million more than a year ago and 19 times as many as in 2020, before the coup, the UNOCHA Myanmar statement reads.

More than 130,000 people have been displaced in Arakan State since renewed fighting broke out in the second week of November, according to ARE, a not-for-profit organisation helping internally displaced people (IDPs) in Arakan State.

IDPs were able to live and eat comfortably with the help of the villagers in the past, but due to widespread food shortages in Arakan State, they are facing difficulties in solving food problems.

“Now the weather is cold. Some children are sick due to lack of warm clothes and blankets. As a mother, I can’t help but feel that my children are sick,” said a local woman in Pauktaw Township.

Civil society organisations in Arakan State say they are facing difficulties providing humanitarian assistance to IDPs due to the junta’s blockading of land and water routes since renewed hostilities between the military and Arakan Army (AA).

UNOCHA called on Monday for US$994 million in donations to help the 5.3 million people that have been identified as priorities for aid in Myanmar in 2024.