IDPs from Kyaimaro Township / Photo: Social Media
Mizzima Editorial
As we approach the beginning of 2024, and the third anniversary of the Myanmar 2021 coup, there are fears that Myanmar may be on the verge of what can be termed a “humanitarian collapse”.
UN OCHA’s year-end Global Humanitarian Overview singles out Myanmar as one of the world’s major crisis areas given the ongoing conflict and the roadblocks the Myanmar junta have put up in blocking aid to those in need.
On an anecdotal level, the breakdown in society and the economy can be seen in the queues for cooking oil, fuel, and other basic supplies, and the roadblocks and dangers posed in many parts of the country as the resistance steps up its attacks and the junta continues to bomb civilians and burn villages.
As we enter 2024, 18.6 million people are in humanitarian need. This is almost 19 times the number prior to the military takeover and equivalent to a third of the population. The spread of conflict has driven unprecedented displacement, with the number of IDPs steeply increasing to 2 million, which is nearly 600,000 more than at the same time last year. There are fears that this trend will continue into 2024.
Heading into 2024, 12.9 million people are moderately or severely food insecure, with food accessibility and availability presenting challenges. Agriculture has been heavily interrupted. Soaring poverty is making it difficult for households to put adequate food on the table and coping capacity is stretched to the limit.
As a result of conflict, rights violations, and the adoption of negative coping strategies, more than 12.2 million people are considered to have protection needs, up from 11.5 million the previous year. Despite the dire humanitarian situation of affected people, including IDPs, the junta has continued to control and limit the transportation of rice, medicine, and fuel, as well as humanitarian access to people in need throughout many parts of the country. Heavy fighting between ethnic armed organizations and the junta in the final quarter of 2023 has driven surging displacement and further constrained access to people in need.
UN OCHA points out that the combination of the considerable underfunding of the response, inflation, access restrictions and interruptions to services in Myanmar has resulted in many needs going unaddressed and worsening.
Since the military takeover many children are still not attending school. This situation places children at much higher risk of negative coping mechanisms such as child labour, trafficking, and early marriage and reduces the likelihood of permanent disengagement from education. The health sector is facing similar strain, with interruptions due to conflict, attacks on health structures and staff, funding, availability of medical supplies and pressure on people not to use public services.
All in all, there is a serious threat that basic services will collapse throughout the country in 2024 as the struggle for a viable future for Myanmar continues.
