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Country analysis

Myanmar


Post-February 2021 coup conflict and longstanding localised conflicts between armed forces (the Tatmadaw) and ethnic armed organisations, widespread and systemic violence, political and economic instability, and natural hazards such as cyclones and floods drive the humanitarian situation in Myanmar.

Its ethnically diverse population was under military rule from 1962–2011; the military shared power with the Government through the 2008 constitution until 1 February 2021, when the Tatmadaw staged a military coup, declaring fraud in the November 2020 multiparty general elections that the National League for Democracy won.

The coup has since internally displaced nearly 2.3 million. In 2024, 18.6 million people are projected to need humanitarian assistance. The country has nearly 2.6 million IDPs, and more than a million have been displaced to Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Protection is a key concern, as armed conflict and international humanitarian law violations by the Tatmadaw and armed groups continue to affect civilians. Access to basic services is limited. Conflict and a lack of economic opportunities threaten livelihoods, particularly for the stateless Rohingya in Rakhine.

The country is facing soaring poverty and high food insecurity levels, with an estimated 12.9 million people facing moderate to severe food insecurity in 2024.

(AOAV 01/02/2022, CFR accessed 04/02/2024, UNHCR 23/01/2024, UNHCR accessed 04/02/2024, OCHA 18/12/2023)

Post-February 2021 coup conflict and longstanding localised conflicts between armed forces (the Tatmadaw) and ethnic armed organisations, widespread and systemic violence, political and economic instability, and natural hazards such as cyclones and floods drive the humanitarian situation in Myanmar.

Its ethnically diverse population was under military rule from 1962–2011; the military shared power with the Government through the 2008 constitution until 1 February 2021, when the Tatmadaw staged a military coup, declaring fraud in the November 2020 multiparty general elections that the National League for Democracy won.

The coup has since internally displaced nearly 2.3 million. In 2024, 18.6 million people are projected to need humanitarian assistance. The country has nearly 2.6 million IDPs, and more than a million have been displaced to Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Protection is a key concern, as armed conflict and international humanitarian law violations by the Tatmadaw and armed groups continue to affect civilians. Access to basic services is limited. Conflict and a lack of economic opportunities threaten livelihoods, particularly for the stateless Rohingya in Rakhine.

The country is facing soaring poverty and high food insecurity levels, with an estimated 12.9 million people facing moderate to severe food insecurity in 2024.

(AOAV 01/02/2022, CFR accessed 04/02/2024, UNHCR 23/01/2024, UNHCR accessed 04/02/2024, OCHA 18/12/2023)

Latest updates on country situation

19 March 2024

As at 18 March 2024, armed conflict between the military junta and armed resistance groups in Kale and Kani townships in Sagaing region had displaced 24,000 people within the month. Based on past displacements, their urgent needs likely include shelter, food, potable water, and NFIs such as blankets, hygiene kits, and jerrycans. (OCHA 19/03/2024)

19 March 2024

As at 18 March 2024, armed conflict in southeast Myanmar between the military junta and armed resistance groups had displaced 22,000 people within the month in Kayin state, southern Shan state, and Tanintharyi region. Based on past displacements, urgent needs likely include shelter, food, potable water, and NFIs. (OCHA 19/03/2024)

27 February 2024

As per media reports, raids and air strikes by the military junta’s forces in the villages of Shwebo district, Sagaing region, displaced 50,000 people from January–February 2024. The displaced need food, shelter, and winterisation support. The displacement has disrupted summer paddy cultivation, worsening the food shortage situation. (The Irrawaddy 22/02/2024, UNHCR 22/02/2024, UNHCR 03/01/2024)

27 February 2024

As at 19 February 2024, intensified armed conflict had displaced around 50,000 people in Htantabin township, Bago (East) region, within February – both internally and externally to other townships, namely Oktwin and Taungoo. The displaced need food, shelter, and healthcare support. (UNHCR 16/02/2024, UNHCR 22/02/2024, MPM 19/02/2024)

31 January 2024

An estimated 18.6 million people in Myanmar need humanitarian assistance in 2024. Intense armed conflict, widespread and systematic violence, political and economic instability, displacement prompted by conflict and natural hazards, and widespread protection risks mainly drive the humanitarian crisis in the country. Myanmar has been facing this deepening crisis since the military coup in February 2021, which resulted in conflict between the military junta forces, along with pro-military armed groups, and anti-military armed groups comprising ethnic armed organisations and anti-coup resistance groups. The armed conflict has significantly escalated since late October 2023. Since the coup, nearly 2.3 million people have been displaced within the country, taking the number of IDPs to nearly 2.6 million as at 22 January 2024. Almost 13 million people need food security assistance, and around 12 million need assistance in accessing health assistance and protection. (OCHA 18/12/2023, UNHCR 26/01/2024, UNHCR 23/01/2024)

26 January 2024

Fighting between the Myanmar military forces and opposition armed groups in Hsi Hseng township, southern Shan state, since 20 January 2024 has displaced about 100,000 people. Many have fled to jungles, monasteries, and relatives’ homes. Based on past incidents, the displaced likely require urgent food, shelter, health, WASH, and winterisation support. (ECHO 26/01/2024, The Irrawaddy 27/01/2024)

26 January 2024

Since November 2023, more than 8,500 people have arrived in Mizoram and Manipur states. They are living in overcrowded conditions and are in immediate need of food, water, shelter, winterisation support, and relief items. Local humanitarian response is present but resources are stretched. (UNHCR 26/01/2024, UNHCR 23/01/2024, DW 17/01/2024)

current crises
in Myanmar


These crises have been identified through the INFORM Severity Index, a tool for measuring and comparing the severity of humanitarian crises globally.

Read more about the Index

MMR004 - Post-coup conflict

Last updated 27/02/2024


Drivers

Violence
Socio-political
Conflict

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

4.4 Very High

Access constraints

5.0

MMR001 - Country level

Last updated 27/02/2024


Drivers

Socio-political
Conflict
Violence

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

4.6 Very High

Access constraints

5.0

MMR002 - Rakhine conflict

Last updated 27/02/2024


Drivers

Conflict

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

3.9 High

Access constraints

5.0

MMR003 - Kachin and Shan conflict

Last updated 27/02/2024


Drivers

Conflict

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

3.7 High

Access constraints

4.0

REG011 - Rohingya Regional Crisis

Last updated 29/02/2024


Drivers


Crisis level

Regional

Severity level

4 High

Access constraints

5.0

Analysis products
on Myanmar

29 February 2024

Reported attacks on healthcare: 2021–2023

Health

29 February 2024

Evolution of IDP numbers and locations: 2021–2023

Displacement

28 February 2024

Humanitarian access situation in Myanmar

Extreme access constraints persist in Myanmar. Armed conflict and security measures, including checkpoints, roadblocks, and curfews, affect humanitarian access. Violence and insecurity resulting from the conflict have internally displaced many towards remote jungles and forests, where access to aid and services is very limited.

 

Around 600,000 Rohingya in Rakhine state continue to be denied citizenship and have limited freedom of movement and access to livelihood opportunities, education, and healthcare. Burdensome bureaucratic processes, travel authorisation denials and delays, visa delays for humanitarians, and banking restrictions hinder the operations of humanitarian organisations in the country.

 

For more details, please visit our thematic page on humanitarian access.

Humanitarian access
Myanmar: three years post-coup

20 February 2024

Myanmar: three years post-coup

DOCUMENT / PDF / 5 MB

The report reviews the evolution of the humanitarian situation across Myanmar in 2023 and early 2024, focusing on key contextual developments and humanitarian trends. It also highlights the response capacity and constraints and provides an outlook for humanitarian developments throughout 2024.

Myanmar: humanitarian impacts of recent clashes

23 November 2023

Myanmar: humanitarian impacts of recent clashes

DOCUMENT / PDF / 8 MB

Since the end of October 2023, fighting between ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) and the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) has escalated in several states across the country. On 26 October, a coalition of EAOs known as the Three Brotherhood Alliance, attacked security force bases in northern Shan state. 

Conflict and violence
View more

Security incidents: 2021–2023