Attachments
1. Introduction
Since the 2021 military coup,[1] villagers in Southeast Burma(/Myanmar)[2] have faced constant threats to their livelihoods. Ongoing attacks by the State Administration Council (SAC)[3] on villages and plantations have critically disrupted farming, foraging, and other traditional livelihood activities. Looting and destruction of foodstuffs and agricultural assets have further deprived villagers of critical resources necessary for survival and income generation. Additionally, SAC checkpoints have restricted access to agricultural land and local markets, thereby limiting villagers’ ability to travel and buy or sell essential goods such as food and medicines. These abuses, combined with escalating fighting between the SAC and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)[4], along with other armed resistance groups, have aggravated the daily hardships faced by communities. Villagers continue to face forced displacement, chronic instability, and significant obstacles to achieving sustainable food security.
This briefing paper examines how the SAC’s systematic destruction of agricultural systems, indiscriminate and targeted attacks on essential assets, obstruction of basic livelihood activities, and the resulting forced displacement, have undermined villagers’ livelihoods and exacerbated food insecurity in Southeast Burma, as reported by villagers from January to December 2024 in locally-defined Karen State.[5] First, the paper examines the historical patterns of livelihood destruction in Southeast Burma under successive military regimes. The second section illustrates the different factors contributing to this destruction in 2024, including the SAC-perpetrated attacks on agricultural production, harm to livestock, and disruptions to access to food and essential economic activities. It also highlights how the destruction of homes, forced displacement, and denial of humanitarian assistance compound the hardships endured by the civilian population. The third section analyses the legal implications of these actions under international law. Finally, the paper concludes with targeted recommendations for local and international stakeholders.