UN: Myanmar’s Displacement Crisis Reaches Staggering Levels
Myanmar is facing a devastating humanitarian crisis as the number of people displaced by ongoing conflict has now surpassed 3 million, marking a “bleak milestone” for the country, according to an article by Al Jazeera published yesterday citing the United Nations.
More details in the following report:
The United Nations has described the staggering figure of over 3 million people displaced from their homes in Myanmar due to ongoing conflict as a “bleak milestone” for the country.
The UN said the number of internally displaced people has surged by 50% in the last six months, as fighting has escalated between the military and armed groups trying to remove the generals who seized power in a 2021 coup.
“Myanmar stands at the precipice in 2024 with a deepening humanitarian crisis that has spiraled since the military takeover in February 2021 and the consequent conflicts in many parts of the country, driving record numbers of people to abandon their homes seeking safety,” the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Myanmar said in a statement.
Of the 3 million displaced, more than 90% fled due to the conflict triggered by the coup. Around half are located in the northwestern regions of Chin, Magway and Sagaing, with over 900,000 in the southeast. Rakhine state in the west has seen over 356,000 displaced, adding to the more than 750,000 Rohingya who fled a brutal 2017 military crackdown.
The deepening conflict has left 18.6 million people in Myanmar in need of humanitarian assistance, 1 million more than last year. However, the UN said its aid efforts have been “grossly underfunded”, receiving less than 5% of the funds needed.
“With cyclone season fast approaching, additional resources are needed now to protect the most vulnerable and save lives,” the UN statement warned.
The military, which has been accused of atrocities against civilians, has ignored a 2021 peace plan agreed with ASEAN. Nearly 5,000 people have been killed by the military since the coup, while over 20,000 are detained, including ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
