1.2 million internally displaced in Myanmar: UN

By Sabeel Ahmed

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has noted in its humanitarian update on Myanmar that 1.2 million people are currently displaced across Myanmar. Nearly 866,400 among them were displaced after the military takeover by General Min Aung Hlaing in February last year.

The report also notes that 346,600 people are in protracted displacement as a result of conflict prior to 2021, the majority of whom are in Rakhine State. Notably, Rakhine is considered the home of the majority of Rohingya Muslims who were persecuted by the Myanmar army and many had migrated out of the country even when the civilian government had ruled the country.

The Sagaing region in the northwest of the country, which shares a border with India has reported the highest internal displacement of 470,000 since February 2021. The state of Rakhine has the second highest internal displacement with 223,100 people being displaced before the military coup.

 The report also reveals that there is a serious lack of funds as only 13 percent(106 million US dollars) of the Humanitarian Response Plan, 2022 has been funded so far out of a total of  826 million dollars of requirement, leaving a gap of 719 million dollars.  

The current situation in Myanmar is similar to a civil war, as rebel groups continue to fight with the Myanmar army. Over 2,000 people have been killed in military crackdowns and more than 14,000 have been arrested.

Inflation, loss of livelihood, the war in Ukraine which disrupted agricultural imports and fuel flows and COVID 19 have all contributed to making matters worse for the country.

Myanmar remains one of only four countries in the world classified by ACAPS as having “extreme” humanitarian access constraints, alongside Eritrea, Ukraine, and Yemen.

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