Myanmar

09 July 2025

Malaria cases are on the rise in Myanmar, particularly in Rakhine State, with over 1,000 cases and over 30 deaths so far in 2025. The outbreak has worsened because of the lack of mosquito nets, limited availability of malaria medication, and the need for civilians to move into forested, malaria-prone areas in search of food. Road blockades, restricted airport access, and suspended NGO support are further worsening the situation. (WHO 30/06/2025, The Irrawaddy 02/07/2025)

09 July 2025

Airstrikes and hostilities in northern Sagaing have displaced over 10,000 people since 14 June – many of them fleeing without food or belongings. Earthquake-related damages have forced people to seek shelter in forests, monasteries, and remote areas, where they continue to face harsh conditions and multisectoral needs, such as food, protection, and shelter. With roads blocked and river transport restricted as a result of conflict and insecurity, access to aid is limited. (OCHA 01/07/2025, The Irrawaddy 02/07/2025)

17 June 2025

Since June 2025, heavy monsoon rains and river overflows have caused widespread flooding in northern and western Myanmar, with Kachin state being the worst affected, followed by Rakhine state. In Kachin, floodwaters inundating mountainous villages and refugee camps have temporarily displaced over 23,000 people. In Rakhine state, the floods have affected around 7,500 people. By 11 June, at least five people had died as a result in Kachin. Additional flood impacts have been reported in Sagaing and Magway regions, where agricultural lands have sustained considerable damage. The rains have arrived unusually early this year, weeks before the typical peak in late June or July, resulting in premature flooding during a critical harvest season and leading to severe agricultural losses. The floods are worsening needs across conflict-affected and earthquake-hit areas where many shelters are unable to withstand heavy rain, increasing the risk of collapse, disease outbreaks, and water contamination. (OCHA 11/06/2025, ECHO accessed 17/06/2025, Examiner 06/06/2025)

30 April 2025

One month after a magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck Myanmar on 28 March 2025, women, girls, and children’s needs remain critical. Over ten million women and girls already needed humanitarian assistance before the earthquake, with 4.6 million women of reproductive age and 223,000 currently pregnant living in the affected areas. The earthquake damaged over 640 health facilities, preventing women’s access to crucial maternal and reproductive care, such as prenatal, postnatal, and urgent obstaetric services. Over 1.5 million adolescent girls face heightened protection risks, with overcrowded shelters lacking privacy, lighting, and safety measures. Around two million children require immediate assistance and protection. The earthquake also damaged over 800 schools and destroyed or rendered 279 non-functional, severely disrupting children’s access to education and safe learning environments. Conflict and insecurity further restrict humanitarian access, disrupt relief operations, and heighten protection risks for already vulnerable populations, particularly women, girls, and children. (UNFPA 25/04/2025, UNFPA 18/04/2025, UNICEF 18/04/2025)

05 March 2025

Healthcare needs in Myanmar are on the rise, particularly in the northwestern region. Since the acute watery diarrhoea outbreak in June 2024, nine states out of 17 have reported outbreaks of water- and vector-borne diseases. Clean water, medicine, and vaccine shortages have worsened the situation. In 2025, it is estimated that 12.9 million people will need healthcare assistance, while 1.2 million unvaccinated children under five are at high risk for vaccine-preventable diseases. Restrictions imposed by the military junta on transportation have aggravated the scarcity of medical supplies, particularly in Chin and Rakhine states and in Sagaing region. The number of displaced people in these regions is also increasing. Rakhine and Sagaing account for over 1.5 million of Myanmar’s 3.2 million IDPs. The US funding freeze is worsening the crisis, as it severely limits the ability of humanitarian organisations to deliver lifesaving health assistance to those in urgent need. With the rainy season approaching, conditions are expected to deteriorate even further. (WHO 28/02/2025, RFA 28/02/2025, UNHCR 18/02/2025)

04 February 2025

Intense armed clashes between anti-junta armed groups and military junta forces, as well as raids conducted by the latter, have displaced around 26,000 residents of Pwintbyu and Salin townships in Magway region since late January 2025. The new displacements will likely take the number of IDPs in the region to around 275,000. Significant damage to homes has been reported, with the newly displaced people living in makeshift shelters. Harvested rice crops in some areas have also been destroyed. This will heighten the shelter and food security needs in the region. Based on previous displacement events, the newly displaced people will likely urgently require food, water, health, protection assistance, shelter, and household items. Armed conflict, movement and administrative restrictions, the obstruction of humanitarian operations, and violence against aid workers highly constrain humanitarian access in Myanmar. Transportation restrictions also hinder the delivery of essential services and disrupt the supply chain. (RFA 03/02/2025, Myanmar NOW 03/02/2025, UNHCR 31/01/2025)

02 January 2025

Since 2022, around 15,900 Rohingya people have attempted to undertake dangerous maritime journeys in over 190 overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels – nearly 50% of which embarked just within 2024 (until 19 December) – from Myanmar or Bangladesh in hopes of reaching other countries, such as Malaysia and Indonesia. Over 1,400 have died or gone missing, 50% in 2024 alone. Nearly 95% of the vessels that undertook the journeys in 2024 embarked from Rakhine state, from where the Rohingya are fleeing to escape intense armed conflict and violence, forced recruitment, high food insecurity levels, and severe access restrictions. These people need food, water, healthcare, and protection during and after their journeys. Such journeys are likely to increase in the coming months given non-monsoon weather conditions, a trend that has been observed in previous years. (UNHCR accessed 02/01/2025, UNHCR 05/11/2024, OCHA 13/12/2024)