Myanmar - Acute food crisis in Rakhine State (DG ECHO, WFP) (ECHO Daily Flash of 14 August 2025)

New data from the World Food Programme (WFP) shows that over half of people in central Rakhine State cannot meet their basic food needs, up from a third of people at the end of 2024. The situation is estimated to be significantly worse in northern Rakhine State due to active conflict, as well as access restrictions.

WFP highlights increasing reports of people taking desperate measures to survive the hunger crisis, such as taking on debt, begging, and taking their children out of school. Domestic violence and human trafficking are also reported.

A 2024 UNDP report warned that 2 million people in Rakhine State were at risk of famine in 2025. Separate data released in June 2025 showed that 16.7 million people (29% of the population) face hunger across Myanmar.

DG ECHO partners are responding to the hunger crisis in Rakhine and across the country, providing food and nutrition as well as cash for food.