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Country analysis

Myanmar


Longstanding localised conflicts between armed forces (the Tatmadaw) and insurgent groups, including militias and ethnic armed organisations, and post-February 2021 coup conflict drive the humanitarian situation in Myanmar.

Its ethnically diverse population was under military rule from 1962–2011; the military has since shared power with the Government through the 2008 constitution. On 1 February 2021, 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 1.5 million. In 2023, nearly 18 million people will need humanitarian assistance. The country has over 1.8 million IDPs, and over one 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.

There are high levels of poverty and food insecurity, with an estimated 15 million people facing moderate to severe food insecurity in 2023.

(AOAV 01/02/2022, CFR accessed 25/01/2023, UNHCR 20/06/2023, OCHA 15/01/2023, OCHA 23/05/2023)

Longstanding localised conflicts between armed forces (the Tatmadaw) and insurgent groups, including militias and ethnic armed organisations, and post-February 2021 coup conflict drive the humanitarian situation in Myanmar.

Its ethnically diverse population was under military rule from 1962–2011; the military has since shared power with the Government through the 2008 constitution. On 1 February 2021, 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 1.5 million. In 2023, nearly 18 million people will need humanitarian assistance. The country has over 1.8 million IDPs, and over one 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.

There are high levels of poverty and food insecurity, with an estimated 15 million people facing moderate to severe food insecurity in 2023.

(AOAV 01/02/2022, CFR accessed 25/01/2023, UNHCR 20/06/2023, OCHA 15/01/2023, OCHA 23/05/2023)

Latest updates on country situation

19 September 2023

Floods in August 2023 displaced 80,000 people in 16 townships in Bago, Kayin, Mon, and Tanintharyi regions and states. Many of them remain displaced; based on past displacements, they are in urgent need of shelter, food, potable water, and NFIs such as blankets, hygiene kits, and jerry cans. (OCHA 19/09/2023, OCHA 08/09/2023)

30 August 2023

Since 10 August 2023, military raids in Khin-U, Wetlet, and Ye-U townships in Sagaing region have displaced around 26,000 people. Based on media reports and past displacements, these people need food such as rice, shelter, dignity kits, medicine, and relief items such as tarpaulins. (Mizzima 30/08/2023, The Irrawaddy 28/08/2023, RFA 25/08/2023)

23 August 2023

Since the February 2021 coup, protection threats to civilians, including displacement, arbitrary arrests, and detentions, as well as the use of landmines, have increased alongside the killing and maiming of civilians and their use as human shields. The presence of landmines and explosive remnants of war have displaced around 1.6 million people, killed 290 civilians, and injured around 920. More than 130 cases of the military forcing civilians to act as human shields have been reported. Access constraints, including escalated military operations, bureaucratic hurdles (such as the denial of travel authorisations), the refusal of passage through military checkpoints, and the forced rescheduling or delay of the activities of aid organisations throughout the country hinder the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the affected people. (OCHA 15/07/2023, ACLED accessed 23/08/2023, UNICEF 10/08/2023)

08 August 2023

Fighting between the military and resistance forces has displaced around 26,000 people in the villages of Ayadaw, Khin-U, and Shwebo townships since 2 August 2023. The displaced urgently need food supplies and shelter. (The Irrawaddy 03/08/2023, RFA 03/08/2023, The Irrawaddy 09/08/2023)

08 August 2023

After Cyclone Mocha hit Rakhine state in May 2023, the number of people requiring shelter assistance rose to at least 657,000, a difference of 267,000 from April 2023. Floods resulting from heavy rains in August and constraints in scaling up assistance for a cyclone-specific response in Rakhine have affected recovery from the cyclone. (UNHCR 31/07/2023, The Irrawaddy 08/08/2023)

25 July 2023

As per media reports, raids by the military and its affiliated militias in July 2023 have internally displaced around 15,000 people in Khin-U township and 5,000 people in Salingyi township in Sagaing region. Based on past displacements, the displaced people need food, shelter, dignity kits, and relief items, such as blankets, mosquito nets, and jerrycans. (RFA 25/07/2023, The Irrawaddy 17/07/2023, OCHA 15/07/2023)

09 June 2023

The Myanmar military junta has suspended all existing travel authorisations for and the aid distribution plans of humanitarian organisations in Rakhine state. The access situation has further deteriorated the humanitarian situation for hundreds of thousands of people with pre-existing vulnerabilities and who already face strict movement restrictions and limited access to services and aid. OCHA 09/06/2023, UNICEF 03/06/2023, OCHA 23/05/2023

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

MMR005 - Cyclone Mocha

Last updated 26/08/2023


Drivers

Cyclone
Floods

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

2.8 Medium

Access constraints

5.0

MMR004 - Post-coup conflict

Last updated 26/08/2023


Drivers

Violence
Socio-political
Conflict

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

4.4 Very High

Access constraints

5.0

MMR001 - Country level

Last updated 26/08/2023


Drivers

Socio-political
Conflict
Violence

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

4.6 Very High

Access constraints

5.0

MMR002 - Rakhine conflict

Last updated 26/08/2023


Drivers

Conflict

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

3.7 High

Access constraints

4.0

MMR003 - Kachin and Shan conflict

Last updated 26/08/2023


Drivers

Conflict

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

3.6 High

Access constraints

4.0

REG011 - Rohingya Regional Crisis

Last updated 28/08/2023


Drivers


Crisis level

Regional

Severity level

3.8 High

Access constraints

4.0

Analysis products
on Myanmar

India: Myanmar refugees

28 July 2023

India: Myanmar refugees

DOCUMENT / PDF / 859 KB

The political turmoil and violence in Myanmar following the February 2021 military coup have led to a significant influx of refugees from Myanmar seeking safety and shelter in northeastern India. The displaced people from Myanmar include ‘stateless’ Rohingya refugees and Myanmar nationals, mainly from Chin and Sagaing states. 

Mixed migration
Impact of Cyclone Mocha

23 May 2023

Impact of Cyclone Mocha

DOCUMENT / PDF / 931 KB

On 14 May 2023, the extremely severe cyclonic storm Mocha made landfall between Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh and Kyaukpyu township in Myanmar. The cyclone caused significant damage to critical infrastructure, houses, and shelters in western and northern Myanmar, and in Bangladesh’s southeastern Chattogram division. 

Natual hazards

Attached resources

Myanmar: Update on post-coup humanitarian situation

04 May 2023

Myanmar: Update on post-coup humanitarian situation

DOCUMENT / PDF / 2 MB

It has been just over two years since Myanmar’s military staged a coup in February 2021 and established itself as the military junta in power, officially known as the State Administrative Council (SAC). Since then, the country has been in a state of emergency, which was extended for an additional six months on 31 January 2023.

Attached resources

Myanmar: Impact of 1 February coup

29 April 2021

Myanmar: Impact of 1 February coup

DOCUMENT / PDF / 10 MB

This report provides a broad understanding of the current situation in Myanmar, highlighting significant developments and the associated needs and access constraints, as well as how humanitarian operations have adapted, particularly in regions with pre-existing needs. 

Conflict and violence
Myanmar: Internet shutdown in Rakhine and Chin state

26 August 2020

Myanmar: Internet shutdown in Rakhine and Chin state

DOCUMENT / PDF / 263 KB

Since 21 June 2019, an internet shutdown has been in place across eight townships in Rakhine and Southern Chin states. The internet shutdown is part of the central government’s response to conflict between the Tatmadaw government forces and the Arakan Army.

Conflict and violence
View more