UN-OCHA issues a disturbing update on the Myanmar crisis

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Myanmar, in collaboration with the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group and UNHCR in Myanmar, has today issued a disturbing update (from February 23 to March 25) on the worsening humanitarian conflict in the country. 

The top issue in the 30 days update is that the political crisis in Myanmar is blocking the supply chain of food in the markets. The WFP worried about the rising cost of food for the rising number of IDPs in the Kachin and Rakhine markets 

The report said banking system disruptions and limited availability of cash continue to hinder humanitarian operations.

Armed clashes between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) have taken place in Kachin, where there had been no major hostilities since mid-2018.

As a result of this, new displacement was recorded in Kayin State in southeastern Myanmar due to clashes between the MAF and the Karen National Union (KNU).

The report also indicated that over 2,570 people in the Tein Nyo displacement site were affected by a fire that destroyed over 660 shelters. In Mrauk-U Township, Rakhine State

Small-scale returns of people displaced by the MAF – Arakan Army (AA) conflict continue to be reported in Rakhine State, which has experienced a lull in clashes since November 2020.

The 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan remains severely underfunded, with less than 10 per cent of the required funding received so far (US$23.6 million received against $267.5 million requested). 

Key Fact About Myanmar Crisis. 

There 126K IDPs in camps since 2012 violence in Rakhine

About 99K people displaced by conflict in sites and host communities in Rakhine and Chin.

A total of 106K people in protracted displacement in Kachin and northern Shan

About 7K people displaced in the South-east

While 2.5K people affected by a fire that destroyed over 660 shelters.