United Nations in Myanmar

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Myanmar:

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Press Release

25 November 2020

16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence

Yangon: The United Nations in Myanmar has called on the Assembly of the Union to adopt a comprehensive Protection and Prevention of Violence against Women Law. The UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar, Mr Ola Almgren, was speaking at a high-level event marking the International Day to End Violence Against Women and launching 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. “The adoption of the Protection and Prevention of Violence against Women law and other gender-responsive legislation would be an important step, as they not only help to protect women and girls from abuse, but also to hold perpetrators of violence accountable,” Mr. Almgren said. “I am confident that the elected Members of Parliament recognise the significance of this law and will take decisive action towards its timely adoption. Such legislation must be in line with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, ratified by Myanmar already in 1997.” Mr Almgren was speaking at the online event organized by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement to highlight the problem of violence against women, which he said had been exacerbated through the COVID-19 crisis. “There are worrying signs that cases of intimate partner violence have increased especially during times when stay-at-home orders are in place. Lockdown restrictions and working from home arrangements are designed to protect us from the pandemic, but they have unfortunately left many survivors trapped behind closed doors with their abusers.” Mr Almgren said important progress has been made by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, and the Ministry of Health and Sports, to develop the response to gender-based violence. “While these developments are promising, we must continue working together to remove remaining barriers survivors face when trying to access essential services.” “There is a need to continue existing health care-, justice-, policing- and social services for survivors, while increasing their accessibility in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.” “At the same time, we also have to scale up gender-based violence prevention and response services, such as hotlines, safe houses, government subsidies, awareness-raising through radio, television and social media.” “I encourage government agencies and related organizations working on social protection to prioritize resources to respond to incidents of gender-based violence and to develop specific plans on how to respond to such incidents during and after the emergency.” Ends

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24 November 2025

Strengthening Community Health and Resilience in Myanmar: How CERF Support Helped Bring Lifesaving Care Closer to Home in Earthquake-affected Areas

Across Myanmar, many remote communities that have been impacted by the March earthquake face persistent challenges in accessing essential health services. Fragile infrastructure, seasonal disruptions, and longstanding resource gaps continue to leave families, especially children, older people, and those with chronic illnesses, at heightened risk.With support from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the World Health Organization (WHO), together with local partners, has strengthened community-level health services in several underserved townships. This flexible, rapid funding enabled partners to expand health care service provisions, support emergency referrals, scale up nutrition counselling, and reinforce early disease detection systems. The result: thousands of people have regained access to timely, quality care, when and where it matters most.A mother’s determination to help her child grow strongerIn a small village in Kayin State, Daw May (name changed) worried that her youngest daughter was not growing well. The family relies on small-scale farming, and seasonal income losses often mean meals lack variety. The little girl became increasingly thin and fatigued.When a CERF-supported health care service provision team arrived to conduct nutrition checks and health education, the child was screened and found to be moderately malnourished. Health workers counselled Daw May on simple, locally available foods that could help her daughter recover.“The health worker explained everything patiently,” she said. “I followed her advice, and slowly my daughter became healthier. When they measured her arm again and told me she was improving, I felt so relieved.”With regular follow-up, nutrition support, and improved feeding practices, her daughter returned to the healthy range.Emergency referral saves a life in a village in Southern Shan State53-year-old Daw Khin (name changed), who lives with bronchial asthma, suffered a severe acute attack of breathing difficulties. At that time, transport challenges and costs had long made it difficult for her to reach a health facility in time.Thanks to the CERF-supported emergency referral system, quick coordination and transport saved lives. She was urgently taken to a nearby public hospital and received lifesaving care. “I felt like I could not breathe,” she recounted. “Without their help, I don’t know what would have happened. I am grateful for the support I received.”Now stabilized on medication, she receives regular follow-up during mobile clinic visits and has regained confidence to resume her daily activities.Effective monitoring enables early detection of public health threatsCERF funding also helped to improve early detection of infectious diseases by effective monitoring and enhancing health awareness among the community after the earthquake-related displacement. The health care workers have promoted the knowledge of the community for early awareness of danger signs of communicable diseases, and support to accessible health care services, and support families with basic preventive practices such as safe water preparation and how to make a safe oral rehydration solution for diarrhorea.A health care worker from Shan South explained: “We are able to contact the health team easily, which allows us to take action against illness early, so small problems don’t become big emergencies. We feel more connected and protected in the community.”This ensures a significant reduction of preventable morbidity and mortality while strengthening community resilience. Restoring dignity and resilience for families facing repeated hardshipsFor many communities, particularly in Kayin state, recent years have brought multiple layers of hardship, from displacement to environmental shocks like the recent March earthquake that damaged crops, homes, and access routes.A mother of six from one of the villages in Kayin state shared how health messages and practical support helped her family through a difficult time: “When my youngest son became sick with diarrhoea, I remembered what the health staff taught us about home fluids. I prepared the mixture and then called the mobile health worker. My son recovered quickly. The support we received gave us strength when things felt overwhelming.”Local partners have also played a vital role in ensuring families receive basic supplies and remain connected to health services despite the disruptions. Through this CERF-supported project, WHO and partners reached more than 58 000 people across Kayin and Southern Shan, providing essential health care, mental health support, nutrition assistance, safe water, and emergency referrals where systems were weakest. Over 9000 medical consultations were delivered through mobile teams, and nearly 1400 people received mental health and psychosocial support. In addition to this, around 2400 pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and young children benefited from emergency nutrition packages. Monitoring of diseases and public health alerts was strengthened across 71 villages, enabling rapid action on public health alerts, while new WASH and solar systems improved access to clean water and basic services for thousands of households. From restoring water systems to supporting emergency referrals, CERF funding helped ensure that communities in remote, crisis-affected areas could continue accessing life-saving services at a time when they needed them most.Dr Thushara Fernando, WHO Representative to Myanmar, noted: “CERF funding allowed urgent needs to be met without delay. At the same time, it helped build healthier, more resilient communities by strengthening the systems that connect people to essential care.”Looking aheadAs Myanmar continues to navigate complex humanitarian and public health challenges, WHO and partners remain committed to reaching the most vulnerable with equitable, people-centered services.Thanks to CERF’s rapid and dependable support, thousands of individuals, from mothers caring for malnourished children to patients with chronic illnesses, have regained access to lifesaving health care and community-based support. These efforts not only address immediate needs, but also lay the groundwork for stronger, more inclusive health systems that can withstand future shocks.*This story was originally published on the WHO Myanmar website.

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20 November 2025

Myanmar inaugurates coffee processing plant, supporting farmers to transition from illicit crop cultivation

Hopong, Myanmar - After ten years of continuous work, the Green Gold Cooperative (GGC) has reached a historic milestone: the completion of its central coffee processing plant — a transformative step for communities in southern Shan State that once depended on opium poppy cultivation.The new facility shows how, in just a decade, farmers have moved from planting their first coffee seeds to running a fully autonomous and self-sustaining production process.From poppy fields to coffee cropsMyanmar is currently the world’s leading producer of illicit opium. This economy continues to shape rural life in the country, generating up to USD 518 million in an environment characterized by poverty and insecurity conditions.For more than 30 years, Alternative Development programmes have helped communities transition away from illicit crops. The GGC is one of the most successful examples in Myanmar, where more than 1,000 farmers have moved from poppy to high-quality coffee and gained access to international markets, showing that sustainable and legal livelihoods initiatives are possible even in areas heavily affected by opium cultivation.GGC’s journey began in 2015, when 530 farmers took the bold step of replacing opium poppy with coffee crops.Their goal was not only to improve livelihoods but to build a sustainable, community-owned business. Today, the cooperative brings together more than 1,000 producers across 48 village committees, and has become a regional model for inclusive, sustainable development.In 2019, GGC became Myanmar’s first Fairtrade-certified coffee producers’ organization, allowing farmers to invest the Fairtrade social premium in social projects and production improvements. These same funds helped purchase the land on which the processing plant now stands.The first phase of construction began three years ago with support from Switzerland, enabling GGC to process green coffee beans locally. The final phase, completed with support from the Government of Japan, added a new office building, a roasting and packaging area and a fully equipped laboratory for coffee quality analysis. With the new plant, GGC can now process, roast and package its coffee independently, reducing reliance on third parties and unlocking new market opportunities. The cooperative also gains a modern space for training, innovation and quality control, strengthening its competitiveness in international markets.“This achievement reflects the communities’ commitment to creating real alternatives to illicit economies,” said UNODC Country Manager Yatta Dakowah, who attended the inauguration. “It’s a clear example of how sustainable livelihoods can replace poppy cultivation when farmers are empowered and supported.” Between 2018 and 2024, GGC exported more than 1,000 tons of green coffee, generating USD 5.48 million in income and earning recognition as a symbol of quality, sustainability, and inclusion.A celebration of partnershipOn 25 September 2025, more than 250 participants gathered to celebrate the inauguration and GGC’s annual assembly. The event brought together farmers, government representatives, and international partners, including delegates from the Governments of Finland and Italy, JICA representatives, Malongo’s General Director Jean Pierre Blanc, and Shogo Yoshitake, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Japan in Yangon, who symbolically handed over the key to the new building.“I would like to congratulate the members of the Green Gold Cooperative, and also the communities, partners, and organizations who helped make this important day possible,” said Yoshitake.Elina Korhonen, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Finland, praised GGC’s inclusive governance, noting:“You have managed to establish inclusive governance with a gender-balanced board, which Finland —as a strong advocate for gender equality— is very happy to see. I would like to encourage you to continue enhancing inclusivity by increasing women’s participation.” Representing Italy, Nicolò Tassoni, Head of Mission at the Embassy of Italy, added: “Coffee is part of Italian culture and a symbol of friendship. Italy is happy to support the Alternative Development project that brings —through your impressive work and achievement— a bright example of hope to farmers and people in South Shan.”For GGC’s farmers, the new plant is more than a building; it is also a unifying symbol that serves as proof of what trust, cooperation, and shared vision can achieve. The facility offers a space for learning, dialogue, and community.The success of the Green Gold Cooperative stands as a powerful example of Alternative Development in action showing how, with the right support, local communities can build sustainable futures, free from the vulnerabilities of illicit economies.*This story was originally published on the UNODC website.

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19 November 2025

The quiet resolve of Myanmar’s communities across Mandalay and Sagaing

‎Stepping into Mandalay and Sagaing for the first time, the newly deployed Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim Gwyn Lewis found a region shaped by upheaval but sustained by people who continue to help one another. Darkened streets, fractured buildings, roadblocks, and families carrying the weight of both conflict and the recent earthquake spoke louder than words. Yet through these hardships were the quiet, determined resolve of those still helping people and communities survive.Electricity flickers in and out across Mandalay, plunging entire streets into brief darkness before lights hum back again against the noise of generators. By early evening the city has already begun to quiet; by 9PM, the roads thin to a faint trickle of motorbikes. In daylight, the marks of recent upheaval are even clearer. Earthquake-damaged buildings sit behind barriers. An older, perhaps once-busy bridge that connects to Sagaing lies in collapse next to its newer counterpart, cutting through the riverbank like a scar. Across Mandalay, the scale of displacement is evident. Families – many with young children and elderly relatives – fled conflict from the north and northwest states and regions of Myanmar, only to be uprooted once again when the March 2025 earthquake struck. The Northwest region consists of Mandalay, Sagaing, Magway Regions and Chin State and is home to the largest number of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in the country, estimated at 1.7 million people.Outside a temporary shelter in the Mandalay area, with a pagoda glimmering behind them, a group of women gathered with Ms. Lewis for a conversation. They are shy at first, but once the first story is shared, each come forward to talk. Accounts of overcrowding in the shelters with no electricity, of unsafe water that calcifies in metal pots, and how after long hours of labour and working sometimes till 10PM at night, they earn 8,000 Kyat per day (2 USD). One woman explains that she cares for six family members, including a disabled mother and a sick child. There are no medical services here, no clinic nearby, and no money to travel. Another used to work on plantations but here she has no land, no tools, no way to start again. A 70-year-old woman who has heath care needs sits beside her grandchildren, describing the cost of getting to Mandalay for treatment, 50,000 Kyat (around 12 USD) each way in a tuk-tuk. For many, the journey to safety drained everything. Several had paid 5–6 million Kyat (between 1,200 – 1,500 USD) to escape from Bhamo in Kachin State, and many sold their belongings one by one until nothing was left, to make the journey to safety.Children were nearby, listening to the stories: a 12-year-old girl whose body still carries scars from an aerial strike, and an eight-month-old baby born during the family’s flight from conflict. Beginning as strangers, here they’ve learned to lean on each other and become a family.When Ms. Lewis asked if they would return home if they could, the answer is immediate and unanimous: yes. Even with homes destroyed. Even without savings. If we could go back, we would, said one woman. They only asked for help with transportation and food support, just enough to rebuild what was lost. In both Mandalay and Sagaing, neighbourhoods were left in destruction following the March 2025 earthquake, and some can still be seen today. Many suffered injuries as they tried to escape. Walking through the destroyed neighbourhoods, past collapsed homes, cracked walls, and remnants of daily life scattered in the rubble, it was a stark reminder of what families had not just lost, but the abrupt rupture of normalcy. This devastation sits side by side with the extraordinary efforts of religious leaders, volunteers, and civil society groups who have carved out pockets of safety in an environment where little feels secure. Their courage is what keeps the humanitarian response alive.But while resilience is abundant, resources are not. Across Myanmar, shrinking global funding and tightening access constraints leave all aid and development actors, including the United Nations, struggling to keep pace with growing needs. Meeting people’s immediate survival needs is only one part of the picture; communities also require the means to rebuild, to restore livelihoods, and to regain stability after years of upheaval. These two realities cannot be separated. Meeting them requires more than separate responses; it requires agencies and partners working together so people are not left surviving one crisis only to fall into the next. For now, it is dedicated local partners and religious networks who shoulder much of the burden, keeping people afloat where they can. But their commitment, as extraordinary as it is, cannot replace the broader access, support, and protection that the international community must help secure. Reflecting on these encounters, Ms. Lewis said: “Meeting families who have endured both conflict and disaster give me a deeper understanding of the scale of hardship people in Myanmar have faced and still continue to face every day. But it also shows the extraordinary commitment of our colleagues, local partners, and religious networks who support them with so little. These communities have strength, but strength alone cannot replace safety, dignity, or hope. They deserve far more than the world has given them so far.”In the fading light of the day, amid checkpoints, shattered buildings, and the determined steps of those still making their rounds, a sentiment hangs in the air long after the conversations have ended: “You being here makes us feel like we are not forgotten” – a reminder of why global solidarity matters.

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18 November 2025

Everything Starts from Within: "A Journey to Self-Love and Empowerment"

Ma Hpang Rita Aye, a woman of lifelong strength who cared for eight younger siblings, had a peaceful life with her 10-wheel truck driver husband, even after their 2018 displacement by conflict. In 2023, her world fractured when her husband died suddenly in a car accident, leaving her a widow with two young children, the youngest only eight months old. The loss was immediate and crushing.As an internally displaced person (IDP), the challenges compounded. Grief, coupled with the sole responsibility of her children, left her feeling "overwhelmed and emotionally drained." Her stress was so severe she often couldn't sleep. “My mind and soul felt heavy… like I was stuck to the ground". She recalls.Some nights she could not sleep, and the stress made her feel mentally exhausted. “I worried constantly about my children and how to take care of them,” she shared quietly. But even in that heavy period, she kept moving forward for her children.The practical reality was equally harsh. Food was severely limited. Some days, all she could offer her children was only thin porridge so her children had something warm to eat. She worked tirelessly, took small loans, attended sewing and weaving training, but her financial situation remained precarious as family support and food assistance dwindled. With shelter support from UNHCR and its partners, she moved to Naung Tar Law Solution Site in 2024. It was a new beginning, but still challenging as food assistance slowly reduced.During this difficult period, she heard about UNFPA’s KOICA-funded activities and that they were looking for community volunteers. She didn’t know much about UNFPA, but she needed strength and a small, regular income to support her children, especially as her family’s financial support was becoming limited. In March 2025, Ma Hpang Rita Aye decided to join the UNFPA’s KOICA-funded activities as a community volunteer, hoping it would help her regain confidence and stability. It was a turning point.The programme provided the structure and support she desperately needed, specifically through training in gender-based violence (GBV), mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). At first , she was quietly and mentally exhausted, but as she learned grounding techniques, butterfly hugs, deep breathing, and small ways to care for herself, something shifted inside. These were practical tools to manage the chronic stress that had held her captive. A pivotal moment came during a monthly coaching session over a meal of chicken biryani. Instinctively, she wanted to save the chicken for her children, but the facilitator offered a crucial, empowering reminder:“If you don’t take care of yourself, how will you take care of your family?”She ate slowly, sitting with the other volunteers, allowing herself to be cared for. She said it was the first time in a long time she allowed herself to feel okay. A Journey to Self-Love and New IndependenceSince that day, the skills and mindset she gained from the UNFPA/KOICA programme have transformed her. Practicing the MHPSS tools, usually at night when her children sleep. She gradually “started to feel strong again.” She learned to set personal boundaries, confidently saying no to what didn’t feel right.This journey culminated in a powerful declaration: “I learned to own my power,”. “Now I know how to love myself, not only my children.” Her newfound strength translated into tangible independence: she now rides a motorbike on her own, raises pigs, and sews independently. She transitioned from a quiet participant to a confident leader, sharing her knowledge by leading community-based psychosocial support sessions and feeling supported by her "community family" of fellow volunteers.Today, Ma Hpang Rita Aye is working toward her dream of improving her sewing skills and opening a small dress-making shop, and continuing sharing what she learned with other women.As she says:“When you know yourself, you can start again. Everything starts from within.” *This story was originally published on the UNFPA Myanmar website.

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17 November 2025

The Doctor Who Walks With His Community: Serving Displaced Communities in Kachin State

Dr. Mung, a local leader originally from Myitkyina, is intimately familiar with the difficult operational context in Kachin State. As a Mobile Medical Team Leader with the Myanmar Medical Association (MMA) since 2019, he works across challenging environments - especially the IDP camps and solution sites. In situations where families are displaced and face obstacles such as low literacy rates and restricted access to vital information, there can be dangerous delays in receiving life-saving care.He states simple, deep motivation: “I want to serve the community I live in. This is my roots.”Working on the frontline, Dr. Mung observes the daily crises that impact families, especially women and adolescent girls: early marriage, early pregnancy, and limited knowledge of sexual and reproductive health are common issues among girls aged 14 to 17. Many become young mothers without access to accurate information about safe sex, contraception, or their reproductive rights.He believes that prevention is always better than cure, but prevention requires knowledge, trust, and continuous access to services- all things many families still struggle with. One moment in the field shows the depth of his commitment.During a routine site visit, a two-month-old baby urgently needed medical care. The parents, unfamiliar with danger signs and unsure where to seek help, were frightened and confused. Dr. Mung had just returned from running a mobile clinic, but when notified, he responded immediately. He accompanied the family to the MMA satellite clinic, helped them communicate with health staff, and ensured the baby was referred to the hospital for emergency treatment.For him, supporting families through the referral process is part of being a community doctor, especially in places where literacy barriers, displacement, and limited information can delay life-saving care.His concerns extend beyond physical health. He has seen more young people affected by online relationships, digital harassment, and unsafe online behavior. Even with fluctuating internet access in Kachin, digital harm continues to shape the wellbeing of women and girls.As part of the UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women & Girls movement, he raises awareness among youth about respectful online behavior, digital safety, and the consequences of harmful actions in both online and offline.Community members also speak of his small, quiet acts of kindness. When families cannot afford medicine even for conditions outside the project scope he often support as community contribution. When asked why, he says:“If I cannot change the whole system, I can at least help the person in front of me. Sharing is caring.” Through MMA’s mobile health outreach, he sees every day how essential sexual and reproductive health services are and how easily these services can disappear without continued support. Sustained funding for SRHR, safe referrals, and community-based services remains critical to ensure women and girls are not left behind. His message for men, women, and young people is grounded in equality and dignity:“Value boys and girls equally. All children are precious. Everyone deserves the same love, care, and rights.”This is meaningful localization in practice, a local doctor who understands his community, sees the barriers they face, and responds with heart.He reminds us that protecting women and girls is not only a programme responsibility, it is a shared human responsibility.And that no matter the circumstances, no one should be left behind.*This story was originally published on the UNFPA Myanmar website.

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Press Release

04 December 2025

ILO vocational training strengthens women’s economic empowerment and community resilience in Myanmar

Yangon, Myanmar – The International Labour Organization (ILO) is giving women the skills required to find jobs and earn incomes, helping them recover from the devastating March 2025 earthquake in Myanmar.In late November 2025, two training courses were launched in Southern Shan State: a two-week computer literacy course and a two-month advanced sewing techniques course. A total of 85 participants, the majority of whom were women, enrolled.The training initiatives complement activities taking place under ILO’s Employment Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP) that supports post-earthquake recovery.Employment-intensive activities focusing on infrastructure recovery were launched in early November 2025 to generate short-term jobs in earthquake-affected areas. The construction-related nature of these activities attracts more male participation than females. To ensure women also have the skills needed for earthquake recovery, the ILO conducted a rapid assessment to understand their economic priorities. Women in the affected areas reported relying on hand-weaving for income and further expressed interest in gaining sewing and textile production skills linked to broader markets, as well as basic computer literacy to improve future employment opportunities. Yutong Liu, ILO Liaison Officer for Myanmar, highlighted the importance of the Employment Intensive Initiative on Skill Development, Livelihoods and Decent Work Agenda in Myanmar.“The ILO quickly launched an early recovery project in August 2025 in response to the earthquake. By promoting labour intensive work, infrastructure rehabilitation, vocational training, social dialogue and social protection at community and grassroots level in earthquake affected areas in Myanmar, we have strengthened capacities that save lives, protect livelihoods, promote decent work and enable recovery in the aftermath of earthquakes.” he said.

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Press Release

03 December 2025

Myanmar’s opium cultivation reaches ten-year peak

Bangkok (Thailand) – Myanmar’s opium poppy cultivation is at a ten-year peak, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has reported in its latest opium survey, which comes at a critical time for the country.The report, titled “Myanmar Opium Survey 2025: Cultivation, Production and Implications”, analyses data collected in Myanmar during the fourth growing season since the military takeover. Showing a 17 per cent increase in poppy cultivation compared to the previous year -from 45,200 to 53,100 hectares- it reflects the uncertainty the country faces after years of conflict and socio-economic instability. It also reaffirms Myanmar’s role as the world’s known main source of illicit opium, following the continued decline of cultivation in Afghanistan. “Myanmar stands at a critical moment,” said Delphine Schantz, UNODC Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. “This major expansion in cultivation shows the extent to which the opium economy has re-established itself over the past years - and points to potential further growth in the future.”Increases in cultivations were recorded in all growing regions, with the strongest increases in East Shan (32 per cent) and Chin State (26 per cent), and the lowest increase measured in Kachin (3 per cent). With an increase of 13 per cent, South Shan remained the area with the heaviest cultivation, accounting for 44 per cent of the country’s opium fields. The report’s analysis includes poppy cultivation in Sagaing Region for the first time, showing 552 hectares under cultivation. Together with the expansion in Chin State, this places increased focus on Myanmar’s western border areas, and potential implications for neighbouring countries. The findings confirm a trend of steady increase in opium cultivation since 2020, following several years of decline over the years before that. A key factor behind this trend is the price of opium, which has doubled over this period amidst deteriorating social and economic conditions. Compared to 2019, when a kg of fresh opium cost 145 USD, the price per kg today stands at 329 USD, an increase of approximately 127 per cent. If global demand for opiates from Southeast Asia rises in response to heroin supply shortages from Afghanistan, this trend is likely to continue, UNODC warns. While the area under poppy cultivation has increased from 2024 to 2025, the amount of opium produced per hectare has not, showing the complex relationship between conflict and illicit crop cultivation. Although economic instability and uncertainty drive more farmers towards opium poppy as a resilient cash crop, intensifying conflict and insecurity make it more difficult for them to care for their fields and obtain the agricultural inputs needed to maintain high yield rates. Decreases in yield were particularly observed in North Shan and Kachin, coinciding with expanding armed clashes in these regions. Nevertheless, the opium yield and resulting productive output remain at historically high levels. The report also points to emerging signs of heroin flowing from Myanmar to markets that were previously supplied by opium originating in Afghanistan. There have been several seizures of heroin from passengers traveling from the Southeast Asia region towards Europe over the past year. While these appeared to be mostly individual cases, the changed environment could encourage more cultivation and production of opium in MyanmarThese challenges are only expected to grow, UNODC warns. Conditions in the country and external factors continue to create incentives for poppy cultivation, and with prices set to increase, farmers will see few alternatives to opium as a crop.“Driven by the intensifying conflict, the need to survive and the lure of rising prices, farmers are drawn to poppy cultivation,” Schantz added. “The increase we have seen in the past year will have significant implications for Myanmar’s future. Unless viable alternative livelihoods are created, the cycle of poverty and dependence on illicit cultivation will only deepen. What happens in the country will shape drug markets in the region and far beyond, and requires urgent action.”Click here to download the full report.Click here to learn more about how UNODC supports farmers transition from illicit crop cultivation.Click here to learn about UNODC’s work on alternative development. Satellite images in target hotspots across Myanmar’s opium-growing fields that UNODC experts used to analyse the current situation.

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Press Release

25 November 2025

Statement from the United Nations in Myanmar on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

As the world marks International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and begins the 16 Days of Activism, the United Nations in Myanmar aligns with the global theme: “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls.” We reaffirm our condemnation of all forms of gender-based violence and our commitment to support all women, girls and LGBTIQ+ individuals who are victims of online violence, as well as all those women-led organizations that continue to provide life-saving support.Myanmar’s compounded crises continue to heighten risks of violence and strain already limited protection systems. Digital abuse adds another layer of harm, and deep digital inequalities intensify these risks. Today, nearly 10.4 million women, girls and LGBTIQ+ individuals in Myanmar remain in humanitarian need, and nearly half of female-headed households lack stable phone or internet access. Limited connectivity, internet shutdowns, data insecurity and digital literacy across urban, rural and conflict-affected areas, expose women, girls and LGBTIQ+ individuals to scams, harassment, trafficking and exploitation, while restricting access to credible information and support. Despite these constraints, women, girls and LGBTIQ+ individuals across Myanmar are using digital platforms to challenge abuse, support survivors and dismantle entrenched patriarchal and discriminatory systems. Their leadership and efforts, especially through the voices of victims and survivors, demonstrate the potential of digital spaces to advance inclusion and equality when those spaces are safe. In this regard, women’s organizations are central to Myanmar’s gender-based violence response. Global reductions in gender-equality financing have already weakened essential services, even as needs grow and crises intensify. Sustained, flexible support is urgently required so these organizations can continue delivering life-saving protection and care.To reiterate the Secretary-General’s call, we underline the shared responsibility of all stakeholders to address all forms of digital violence. Strengthened legal protection, safer digital platforms and community-wide commitment to zero tolerance for online abuse are essential elements of a comprehensive response. During these 16 Days of Activism, and every day, we stand with Myanmar’s women, girls, LGBTIQ+ individuals and the organizations that support them, in demanding a future free from violence—online, offline or anywhere.

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Press Release

22 October 2025

Statement on the deployment of Gwyn Lewis as ad interim Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar

Yangon – Ms. Gwyn Lewis of Ireland will be serving as ad interim United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar until further notice.With 25 years of experience in international development, peacebuilding, and humanitarian affairs, Ms. Gwyn Lewis brings extensive experience within the UN system and beyond, combining operational expertise and strategic vision. Before assuming her current position in Myanmar, Ms. Lewis served as the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh. Prior to that, she served as Director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the West Bank, where she led teams in providing essential services and humanitarian support across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. She also served as Deputy Director for Programs for UNRWA Affairs in Lebanon.Earlier in her career, Ms. Lewis worked with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), where she managed the Global Clusters Coordination section within the organization’s Emergency Division. Ms. Lewis has also held positions in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and has worked with the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and NGOs in Albania and Tajikistan.Ms. Lewis holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and European Studies from the University of Kent in Canterbury, and a Bachelors in Economics from San Francisco State University.

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Press Release

12 September 2025

UNHCR’s Grandi calls for increased aid access and funding for Myanmar’s forgotten crisis

GENEVA – UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, on Thursday completed a three-day visit to Myanmar, where he witnessed the grave consequences of unrelenting violence and conflict that have left millions displaced and without homes.“The suffering of millions of people across Myanmar is immense. With aerial bombardments, destruction of property, and forced recruitment, they live in daily fear for their lives. Communities have fled again and again in search of safety. Civilian men, women and children must be protected from violence, and solutions found so that they can choose to return home in safety and dignity,” Grandi said.The High Commissioner visited communities affected by the devastating earthquake in March this year and spoke with internally displaced and stateless people. In Nay Pyi Taw, he urged wider humanitarian access and discussed solutions for the forcibly displaced.“Millions of people forcibly displaced within the country and as refugees throughout the region want nothing more than to be able to return home. They demand – and are entitled to – the safety and security that comes with peace.“All parties – with the support of the international community – must engage seriously to find solutions to their plight. This is particularly needed for the Rohingya, who have not only been attacked and displaced, but deprived of their basic rights for far too long,” said Grandi.Later this month in New York, Grandi will attend a high-level conference on the situation of Rohingya and other minorities in Myanmar, calling for greater regional and international efforts to create conditions for voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable returns. In the meantime, Grandi called for much greater financial support from the international community to help people in Myanmar and refugees throughout the region.As part of a wider humanitarian response, UNHCR works with other UN agencies, NGO partners and communities in Myanmar, providing assistance to address the basic needs, physical safety and well-being of forcibly displaced and stateless people and promoting peaceful coexistence with host communities. But access remains constrained in many areas, cutting communities off from vital humanitarian aid.UNHCR requires $88.3 million to fund its response in Myanmar this year, but has so far received just 33 per cent of that total. The UN-wide Myanmar Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2025, including the earthquake addendum, is only funded at 22 per cent of a required $1.4 billion.

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