Myanmar Aid Groups Face Challenges as U.S. Freezes Foreign Aid Amid Looming Hunger Crisis
Aid organizations supporting victims of Myanmar’s ongoing turmoil are struggling to provide assistance following a 90-day freeze on nearly all U.S. foreign aid, RFA reported. This decision comes as the United Nations warns of a significant hunger crisis four years after the military ousted an elected government, displacing over 3.5 million people due to conflict between the junta and pro-democracy groups.
In the fiscal year 2024, the U.S. allocated $141 million in humanitarian aid to Myanmar, primarily through groups operating along the Thai-Myanmar border. However, the U.S. State Department’s recent freeze aims to review programs for efficiency and alignment with the America First agenda. Many relief organizations, including healthcare providers, are facing potential suspension of funding.
Nai Aue Mon, program director of the Human Rights Foundation of Monland, highlighted the widespread impact of the aid freeze on humanitarian efforts, particularly in regions administered by the anti-junta Karen National Union. With limited reserves, many groups are scrambling for alternative funding sources.
As the crisis deepens, the World Food Programme projects that 15 million people in Myanmar will face hunger in 2025, up from 13.3 million the previous year. The situation is exacerbated by ongoing conflict, economic decline, and access restrictions, prompting calls for immediate international support to prevent further deterioration.
