Myanmar Spring Chronicle – May 28 Viewpoint
(MoeMaKa, May 29, 2025)
Military Spending vs. Disaster Relief and Recovery
At a time when raising just a few tens or hundreds of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid requires intense appeals and lobbying, the world is simultaneously committing billions in military assistance for wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Billions are being spent on weapons, missiles, and defense systems, according to news reports.
While some African nations are facing famine and extreme poverty due to conflict and poor governance, nearly a million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar and long-term refugee camps along the Thai-Myanmar border continue to rely on limited international aid — sometimes as little as 50 baht per month. Meanwhile, global military and defense expenditures continue to surge into the hundreds of billions of dollars.
Against this backdrop, the question often arises: why are developed nations willing to spend billions on war and weapons but hesitate when it comes to comparatively modest humanitarian needs? One explanation may lie in the political calculations of national leaders, who often prioritize domestic nationalist sentiment and party support. Another is the influence of powerful arms manufacturers who profit from continued global instability.
Myanmar’s Context: Huge Military Budget vs. Meager Disaster Recovery
In Myanmar, the military junta is reportedly spending around USD $5 billion annually on defense, while spending significantly less — in some cases, less than 100 billion kyats — on natural disaster response and rebuilding efforts.
Cyclone Mocha, which struck Rakhine State in 2023, caused massive destruction of homes, freshwater sources, agriculture, and aquaculture. The total estimated damage exceeded 530 billion kyats, but only about 73 billion kyats was allocated for recovery.
Similarly, late-season rains from Cyclone Ragu in 2023 caused severe flooding across many regions, with damage totaling 460 billion kyats, while only 54 billion kyats was spent on aid and rebuilding.
As for the recent earthquake that struck Sagaing and Mandalay, damages are estimated to have surpassed 3,600 billion kyats, but the amount spent on response and reconstruction remains unclear.
Despite these mounting natural disasters, the military regime has continued to escalate its defense budget year over year to fight ethnic armed organizations and various PDF forces. In 2022–2023 alone, defense spending reached 5,600 billion kyats.
A Nation Focused on War, Not Welfare
Myanmar’s military expenditures are disproportionately high compared to its national production capacity. Though exact figures for anti-junta armed groups are unknown, their own military spending is significant — even if not as high as the junta’s. Unlike the military regime, they don’t maintain large-scale air and naval forces or tens of thousands of salaried personnel. However, their operational costs — including weapons, logistics, and supplies — are often higher due to reliance on illicit markets.
Both sides finance their military activities through extractive industries and taxation. The junta uses revenue from natural resource extraction and customs duties, while resistance groups rely on similar sources, and in some cases, on illicit activities like wildlife trafficking and drug trade.
Disasters Exacerbate the Burden on Citizens
These dual burdens of war and natural disaster mean civilians are paying twice. Not only do they endure displacement, loss of life, and destruction from armed conflict, but they are also subjected to rising prices on basic goods, medicine, and construction materials — due in part to heavy taxes, tolls, and road fees imposed on transportation and trade routes.
With little or no assistance from authorities, people are increasingly forced to rely on community networks to recover from disasters. The weight of the nation’s crises — war and natural disasters alike — is being carried squarely on the shoulders of the public.