The United Nations has announced a distressing increase in displacement within Myanmar, with the number of people forced from their homes due to ongoing conflict surpassing 3 million. This marks a significant 50 percent rise in the past six months, as hostilities between the military and opposition forces continue to intensify following the February 2021 military coup.
According to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator’s office, Myanmar is facing a deepening humanitarian crisis that has worsened significantly since the military, led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. This political upheaval has led to mass protests and a violent crackdown by the military, escalating into an armed conflict involving ethnic groups and anti-coup fighters.
The majority of the displaced population is located in the northwestern regions of Chin, Magway, and Sagaing, as well as in the southeast and western state of Rakhine. The latter saw a severe military crackdown in 2017 that forced over 750,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee to Bangladesh.
The conflict has also spread to other areas, including northern Shan and western Rakhine states, where ethnic armed groups have recently launched major offensives. Additionally, clashes have occurred around Myawaddy, a major trade hub on the Thai border.
The UN also highlighted a worrying trend of increased need for humanitarian assistance, with an estimated 18.6 million people now affected, up by 1 million from the previous year. Despite the growing needs, the UN reported receiving less than 5 percent of the necessary funding for its humanitarian operations in Myanmar.
With the approaching cyclone season, the UN is urgently calling for increased funding to safeguard the vulnerable populations and facilitate life-saving aid, particularly as the military has been accused of hindering relief efforts through various obstacles. The situation remains dire, with nearly 5,000 people reportedly killed by the military since the coup and over 20,000 detained, including Aung San Suu Kyi, who is serving a lengthy sentence following a secretive trial.
