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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

23 November 2023

As at 22 November, the escalation of armed conflict in Myanmar between the military junta forces and anti-military groups since late October has internally displaced more than 330,000 people, bringing the total number of IDPs in the country to over two million. Some of the newly displaced are sheltering in forested areas and paddy fields with very limited humanitarian access. The most affected states and regions are Chin, Mandalay, Rakhine, Sagaing, and northern Shan. Active fighting has blocked or severely restricted key transportation routes, including road and waterway infrastructure, and closed some airports, hindering humanitarian access, people’s movement to safer locations, and the supply of essential goods. Both the newly displaced and host communities need immediate humanitarian assistance, such as food, potable water, safe shelter, emergency healthcare, water purification tablets, medical supplies, shelter materials, dignity kits, protection support, and cash assistance. (OCHA 23/11/2023, IISS 20/11/2023, RFA 20/11/2023)

07 November 2023

Since 3 November 2023, heavy fighting has been on-going between anti-military forces and the Myanmar military junta forces in the northern Sagaing region. Media reports note that as many as 50,000 people have been displaced from Kawlin city to shelters on its outskirts. The displaced people urgently need food, cooking oil, fuel, medicine, and blankets.


(RFA 07/11/2023, The Irrawaddy 07/11/2023)

02 November 2023

Armed conflict since 26 October 2023 between the Myanmar junta forces and ethnic armed organisations has internally displaced around 50,000 people in northern Shan state (as at 10 November). These IDPs are in urgent need of food, potable water, warm clothing, bedding, mosquito nets, hygiene supplies, and medical services. (OCHA 02/11/2023, OCHA 10/11/2023)

11 October 2023

Heavy rainfall since 8 October has caused floods in the Bago region of Myanmar. Over 27,000 IDPs, including people who were already displaced, are residing in relief camps. The displaced are in urgent need of potable water, food, and medicine. (ECHO 11/10/2023, The Irrawaddy 11/10/2023)

02 October 2023

In September 2023, intense fighting in Sagaing region in Myanmar displaced more than 30,000 people. Since the military coup in 2021, 1.65 million people have been displaced across the country, around 814,000 of whom are in Sagaing. Several townships in the region face frequent military raids, resulting in multiple displacement for some of these people. Indiscriminate shelling, air strikes and the presence of explosive ordnance, cases of arbitrary arrest and detention, and property destruction threaten the safety and security of civilians. Newly displaced people are in urgent need of shelter, food, potable water, medicine, basic healthcare and WASH services, and relief items, such as tarpaulins, jerrycans, and hygiene kits. Humanitarian access in the region remains very limited by bureaucratic barriers (such as the refusal of travel authorisations), armed conflict between the military junta and the anti-coup resistance forces, the increased presence of landmines, poor internet access, and heavy rains. (OCHA 02/10/2023, The Irrawaddy 26/09/2023)

26 September 2023

Since 14 September 2023, nearly 15,000 people have been internally displaced in Kyainseikgyi township of Kayin state because of armed conflict between the Myanmar military and anti-military resistance forces. At least 100 houses were damaged. IDPs are in urgent need of food, medicines, and other relief items. (OCHA 26/09/2023, Independent Mon News Agency 18/09/2023)

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)

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 30/11/2023


Drivers

Cyclone
Floods

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

2.8 Medium

Access constraints

5.0

MMR004 - Post-coup conflict

Last updated 30/11/2023


Drivers

Violence
Socio-political
Conflict

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

4.4 Very High

Access constraints

5.0

MMR001 - Country level

Last updated 30/11/2023


Drivers

Socio-political
Conflict
Violence

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

4.6 Very High

Access constraints

5.0

MMR002 - Rakhine conflict

Last updated 30/11/2023


Drivers

Conflict

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

3.7 High

Access constraints

4.0

MMR003 - Kachin and Shan conflict

Last updated 30/11/2023


Drivers

Conflict

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

3.7 High

Access constraints

4.0

REG011 - Rohingya Regional Crisis

Last updated 30/11/2023


Drivers


Crisis level

Regional

Severity level

3.8 High

Access constraints

4.0

Analysis products
on Myanmar

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
Myanmar: analysis ecosystem

10 October 2023

Myanmar: analysis ecosystem

DOCUMENT / PDF / 1 MB

This report analyses the current analysis ecosystem in the humanitarian context of Myanmar. It highlights the humanitarian sector’s analysis needs and gaps resulting from the reduced operational space and consequent constraints on data collection and data and information sharing. 

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. 

Natural 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

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