Myanmar Spring Chronicle – March 20 Perspective
MoeMaKa, March 20, 2024
Severe Crisis for Internally Displaced People and Those in Need of Aid
Before the military coup in Myanmar, there were around 670,000 internally displaced people (IDPs). However, four years after the coup, the number has surpassed 3 million within the country. Additionally, including over 1 million Rohingya refugees who fled to neighboring countries following the 2017 genocide in Rakhine State, the total number of displaced individuals has now exceeded 4.5 million.
Following the coup in 2021, conflicts escalated in Karenni State, Karen State, Chin State, and Mindat, leading to a continuous rise in IDPs. In 2022, the number reached 1.5 million, growing to 2.6 million by 2023, and now 3.1 million in 2024. These figures represent those who have been forcibly displaced. However, due to armed conflicts disrupting livelihoods, the United Nations (UN) estimates that over 15 million people in Myanmar require humanitarian assistance.
WFP Halts Food Aid Due to Funding Shortages
The World Food Programme (WFP) recently announced that due to funding shortfalls, it will stop providing food aid to over 1 million people in Myanmar by the end of March. The program had been supplying essential food assistance in conflict-affected regions such as Kachin, Karenni, Rakhine, Bago, and Shan States, in coordination with local organizations.
In Rakhine State, WFP had been assisting not only ethnic Rakhine civilians displaced by war but also Rohingya communities confined to camps since 2012, who have been unable to work or sustain themselves.
One key factor in the funding cut is the suspension of USAID aid under the Trump administration, which has significantly impacted humanitarian support. Moreover, prolonged conflicts in Myanmar, ongoing wars in Europe and the Middle East, and increasing global humanitarian needs have led to decreased international aid for Myanmar.
Obstacles to Aid Distribution and Escalating Hardships
Not all displaced individuals in Myanmar receive international assistance. Many regions are cut off from aid due to military blockades and ongoing conflicts. Restrictions on transportation and access to supplies have left IDPs in Sagaing, Magway, and Mandalay Regions struggling to survive independently.
Years of war have severely affected agriculture and livestock production, forcing people to ration food and endure prolonged hardships. Inflation, increased taxation at multiple military checkpoints, and trade restrictions have further exacerbated economic difficulties.
The Worsening Conflict and Its Humanitarian Toll
While some ethnic armed groups attempt to warn civilians and arrange humanitarian corridors before launching attacks, many battles erupt unexpectedly, prioritizing military gains over civilian safety. Some armed groups and political factions believe that this is the final decisive battle to remove military rule, leading to the assumption that the public must endure suffering in the short term for long-term change.
Myanmar has endured over 70 years of civil war, with the first major conflict (1949–1952) leaving only Yangon under government control at one point. However, the military eventually regained lost territories. Today, the second nationwide conflict since 2021 has displaced over 3 million out of Myanmar’s 54 million people.
With conflicts expected to escalate further in the coming months, the humanitarian crisis could worsen beyond current levels. As international aid dwindles, solidarity and mutual support within communities are becoming increasingly crucial for survival.