The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that the ongoing conflict in Myanmar continues to fuel suffering and humanitarian needs. Myanmar is experiencing one of the largest and most severe humanitarian crises worldwide, where hostilities have been marked by airstrikes and violations of international humanitarian law, triggering widespread displacement and harm to civilians.
In a report released Monday, OCHA stated that the humanitarian situation in Myanmar worsens each year due to ongoing conflict, recurrent disasters, and steady economic decline. Humanitarian needs in Myanmar have risen dramatically since the military takeover five years ago, a situation exacerbated by the devastating earthquake that struck the country in 2025.
Despite shrinking funding, insecurity, and access challenges, aid agencies continue to deliver life-saving assistance to millions of people. Last year, they reached 6.3 million people at least once; however, the depth and frequency of the support provided has often been insufficient. By the end of 2025, only 28 percent of the required US$1.4 billion had been received.
According to OCHA, the 2025 earthquake response reached 1.7 million people by taking advantage of temporary access arrangements that allowed for the rapid delivery of aid in the hardest-hit areas. However, significant underfunding, inflation, access restrictions, and service disruptions have left many essential needs unmet.
The UN humanitarian office warns that underfunding is forcing people to make impossible choices and hindering access to humanitarian aid. Families are skipping meals, taking dangerous journeys, and exposing themselves to serious risks simply to survive.
The 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) requests $890 million from donors to provide critical life-saving assistance and protection services to 4.9 million people in Myanmar. Due to a collapse in global funding, the HNRP has been drastically scaled back from its 2025 target of 6.7 million people, though this does not reflect any improvement on the ground.
This year, humanitarian organizations are focusing their efforts on 2.6 million of the most severely affected people in Myanmar. However, as of today, only 24 percent of the HNRP has been funded, with just $212 million received. Humanitarian organizations warn that millions could be left without necessary support if urgent funding is not mobilized.
According to the HNRP, over 16.2 million people in Myanmar, including approximately 5 million children, require life-saving assistance and protection this year. Although often overlooked by the global public, Myanmar remains one of the world's most dire and underfunded humanitarian crises, perpetuated by widespread armed conflict and pervasive insecurity nationwide.
The fighting affects most of the country, and the conflict is rated as one of the deadliest in the world. The northwestern and southeastern regions, including Sagaing, Magway, Chin, Bago, and Kayin, continue to experience intense fighting and displacement. Meanwhile, Rakhine, Shan, and Kayah states face the ongoing risk of aerial attacks and armed clashes.
According to the UN Human Rights Office, airstrikes attributed to the Myanmar Armed Forces killed at least 982 civilians in 2025 — a 53 percent increase compared to the previous year. At least 287 children were killed in 2025, making it the deadliest year for children since 2021.
Some 5.2 million people from Myanmar have been displaced, either internally or across borders. Over 3.7 million are internally displaced, and approximately 1.5 million have sought refuge in neighboring countries. For the nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh, a safe return to Myanmar remains impossible as the conflict within the country continues unabated.
More than eight years have passed since their massive exodus from Myanmar in 2017, and more people continue to flee the ongoing conflict to Bangladesh, where living conditions in the refugee camps remain dire. Scarce livelihood opportunities and increased insecurity are pushing more and more refugees to risk dangerous sea journeys to reach Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and India.