Posted on 24 May 2024
Myanmar has reached a distressing landmark in its ongoing conflict, as reported by the United Nations, with over three million civilians now displaced, marking a fifty percent increase in the past six months. This surge in displacement is attributed to the intensification of clashes between the military and various armed groups, following the military coup in February 2021. The conflict has escalated particularly since the end of October last year, with major offensives in northern Shan and western Rakhine states, resulting in the capture of several towns and military outposts near the China border.
The humanitarian crisis in Myanmar continues to deepen, with the UN stating that approximately 18.6 million people are in need of assistance, an increase of one million from the previous year. Efforts to deliver aid are being severely hindered by gross underfunding, with the UN receiving less than five percent of the required funds for humanitarian operations. As the cyclone season approaches, there is an urgent call for additional resources to protect the vulnerable and save lives, emphasising the critical nature of the situation in Myanmar.
Source: ALJAZEERA