Attachments
Highlights
- In the first half of 2024, widespread conflict continued to drive displacement, further exacerbating humanitarian needs in multiple states and regions in Myanmar.
- Seasonal flooding and increased cases of acute watery diarrhea (AWD) have worsened pre-existing vulnerabilities, particularly for children and women.
- Against this backdrop, nearly 230,000 people were provided with life-saving WASH supplies and services. Among them, 163,210 people (including displaced and conflict affected people) received clean drinking water.
- The funding gap of 88 per cent against the Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) Appeal impacts UNICEF’s capacity to deliver life-saving assistance to millions of children and their families. In the current volatile context, with deepening needs and surging displacement, flexible, predictable, sufficient and timely funding is even more critical.
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
The humanitarian situation in Myanmar is dire and continues to deteriorate as fighting escalates across the country.
More than 3.2 million people have been displaced, including about 600,000 displaced within first half of 2024 (compared to the 345,000 displaced in the first half of 2023). One third of the population – 18.6 million people – including six million children, are in need of humanitarian assistance.
Escalating attacks and clashes have displaced more than 1.2 million people in Sagaing Region, more than 775,000 people in the south-east, and more than 300,000 people in Rakhine state.
About 40 per cent of all displaced people are children. Food insecurity is on the rise, with 13.3 million people, almost a quarter of the population, estimated to be facing high acute food insecurity (phase 3 or above) with 2.7 million in phase 4.4 More than one million children under the age of five have missed basic immunization in recent years and are at greater risk of catching vaccine preventable diseases, while 5.6 million people require urgent access to WASH services.
Children are bearing the heaviest burden of unabating violence, grave violations, mass displacement and the near collapse of critical health and education systems. It is reported that forced recruitment, the enforcement of conscription law, and telecommunication blockages in some conflict and disaster-affected areas impacted the availability and capacity of humanitarian partners. Access restrictions and funding shortages are major barriers to the delivery of life-saving assistance to millions of conflict-affected children and their families.