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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24 October 2023

Displaced families yearn for home in Myanmar’s forgotten conflict

In the distance, 500-year-old stone pagodas punctuate the verdant landscape. Mrauk-U Township, where Mya Ta Saung site is located, is renowned for its rich cultural heritage and for being the capital of a once-prominent Arakan kingdom. At Mya Ta Saung’s Buddhist monastery, women patiently wait their turn to collect relief items from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. Religious buildings and host communities play a key role in supporting displaced families, often acting as places of refuge in times of conflict. Carefully balancing large green sacks on their heads, they make their way back to their shelters, navigating through muddy paths and knee-high waters as the monsoon rains continue to fall. The site regularly floods during heavy rain and residents are forced to use improvised bamboo walkways to move around. In one shelter, Oo Thein Hle, 57, huddles together with her husband, children and grandchildren inspecting the sack’s contents. Inside are basic household items including blankets, sleeping mats, kitchen sets and mosquito nets. “Without outside assistance, our lives would be much more difficult,” said Oo Thein Hle. Her family, who were farmers, were forced to forsake their land when mortar shells landed on their village and destroyed their home.
Today, Mya Ta Saung offers safety to over 1,100 people from four nearby villages. The majority arrived in 2019 when fighting between the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed organization and the Myanmar Armed Forces rocked the area. Since the conflict began in 2018, it has displaced over 100,000 largely ethnic Rakhine people across central and northern parts of Rakhine State, of which about 51,000 still remain displaced today. The impact of the conflict is less known since much of the international focus has been on the Rohingya, another ethnic group from Rakhine State. The Rohingya have been affected by violence and face severe restrictions on their fundamental rights, including citizenship, freedom of movement and access to basic services. Four years since their displacement, Oo Thein Hle’s family, like many others in Mya Ta Saung, struggle to make ends meet due to limited job opportunities. Rakhine is among the poorest and least developed states in Myanmar and the communities are heavily reliant on humanitarian aid provided by several organizations in order to survive. In addition to basic household items, UNHCR also provides shelter support to displaced communities. Since January 2023, over 44,000 people in nine Rakhine townships affected by the conflict have received assistance from UNHCR. Sustainable returns unlikely Many families in Mya Ta Saung yearn to return to their villages, but tensions and insecurity continue, threatening the fragile ceasefire agreed upon in November 2022. “There is less freedom for us here [at the displacement site]. In our village, we could do whatever we liked and go wherever we wanted…but we are scared to return,” said Oo Thein Hle. Despite being located just four miles away from the displacement site, Oo Thein Hle’s village is still considered unsafe to return to. The presence of landmines in the area means families cannot tend to their crops, maintain livestock or forage for bamboo. The village is also flanked by hills which are still occupied by armed combatants. Adding to the pressures faced by displaced communities is the prospect that the site could be closed down by de facto authorities, a possibility that heightens their vulnerability. While Mya Ta Saung has not been slated for closure, families at several displacement sites elsewhere have been forced to return to their villages or relocate elsewhere. “While the majority of displaced people have expressed their desire to return to their villages, many do not feel safe doing so primarily due to the fear of the reassumption of clashes and the presence of landmines. The sustainability of returns is very much linked to security,” explains Federico Sersale, UNHCR’s Head of Office in Sittwe. “Displaced families have a right to return to their villages in safety and dignity, but the decision needs to be an informed one and of their own volition. No one should be forced to return or leave their place of displacement. UNHCR will continue to support families with humanitarian aid along with their search for durable solutions,” he adds. With prolonged insecurity and the threat of armed conflict resuming, Oo Thein Hle is uncertain when she will be able to return home. “We might end up living here [in Mya Ta Saung] forever and die here,” she says through tears. “I feel like there is no future for us.”
END For more information on UNHCR’s assistance to communities affected by the Arakan Army – Myanmar Armed Forces conflict, please refer to our latest dashboard: https://data.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/103563 Myanmar language dashboard: https://data.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/103559 *This article was originally published on the UNHCR Asia Pacific website on October 24.

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Speech

16 October 2023

Secretary-General Message on World Food Day

World Food Day 2023 comes during a global food crisis, with the world moving backwards on ending hunger and malnutrition. Some 780 million people around the world are going hungry; almost fifty million children are at risk of death from severe wasting. Yet funding for this year’s global humanitarian appeal stands at just 32 percent. In our world of plenty, it is outrageous that a person dies of hunger every few seconds, while the World Food Programme has been forced to cut its essential aid programmes. In 2015, after years of progress, Governments set the goal of zero hunger by 2030. But eight years later, the number of people suffering from hunger has increased significantly. This crisis demands action – first and foremost from national governments, which have a responsibility to make sure their people have enough to eat. But many governments lack the resources to do so, and so effective international solidarity is also essential. The long-term causes of the global food crisis include conflicts, climate extremes, inequality, and economic instability. The UN system is addressing these root causes through our support for sustainable, equitable food systems that put people over profits. That means massively scaling up investments in resilient agriculture, and aligning them with climate action. It means leveraging science and technology to improve the efficiency and reach of food systems. This year’s theme for World Food Day focuses on water – a necessity for nutritious and healthy food. The sustainable management of water for agriculture and food production is essential to end hunger, achieve the SDGs, and preserve water for future generations. Zero hunger is achievable. This World Food Day, I call on governments, the private sector, civil society and academia to work together; to prioritize feeding the hungry; to bring ending this crisis to the top of the global agenda; and to invest in long-term solutions that provide everyone with enough to eat.

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Story

28 August 2023

Three innovative ways UNDP is helping farmers in Myanmar’s Shan State

Agriculture provides work for thousands of people across Shan State, a livelihood that produces food consumed throughout Myanmar and drives substantial earnings through exports. It is, however, possible to enhance agricultural productivity by implementing better farming methods, choosing appropriate crops, and reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which contribute to environmental degradation. Since the military takeover in February 2021, economic instability in Myanmar has further exacerbated farmers' challenges. Seed and fertilizer prices have risen, access to markets and supply chains has been disrupted, and available credit is limited, which is vital for many farmers who lack the money to pay for critical agricultural inputs between sowing the crops and selling the harvest. UNDP is providing wide-ranging support to farmers in southern Shan State, including harnessing affordable, climate change-resilient technological solutions to increase the productivity of their land. To ensure success, new ideas are piloted with farmers. Here are three of UNDP’s latest initiatives. Irrigating crops with solar pumps Myanmar’s annual monsoon provides sufficient rain for farmers to grow groundnuts and ginger. However, other crops, such as rice paddy, garlic, tomatoes, and chilli peppers, require additional irrigation. Farmers in one village rely on diesel-powered pumps to extract water from a local creek to access this water. With fuel prices rising, this is a costly endeavour. "I had to cut down on fertilizer expenses to compensate for the high fuel costs. As a result, vegetable yields on my farm suffered. Additionally, the diesel engine pumps used by all farmers in the village during the harvesting season caused noise and air pollution," said U Bhone. To overcome these issues and facilitate a sustainable way to irrigate crops, UNDP provided a solar pumping system to support farmers' production needs, alleviating concerns about fuel costs. "To ensure the system's maintenance, the group of farmers using the solar pumping system contribute a small amount of money," U Bhone added. "The success of this pilot project has sparked interest among other households in the village, who are now considering installing their own solar pumping systems." Fertilizer + irrigation = fertigation
Fertigation is the process by which fertilizer is dissolved in an irrigation system’s water and delivered directly to the plants’ roots. Although using the system requires training and close management, it improves the uptake of nutrients, saves farmers’ time, and increases crop yields. As part of a pilot project, UNDP provided pipes, water tanks and technical support to establish the fertigation system in a southern Shan State village. The process reduced the amount of fertilizer used from 25kg to 1.5kg. At a time when fertilizer costs have soared from between 15 and 40 percent, these savings are significant. "Previously, my tomato farm had very low yields, and the cost of fertilizer was overwhelming. Additionally, my wife and I had to pay labor fees as we worked tirelessly to manage the farm. After selling the tomatoes at the market, there wasn't much money left for my family. I was barely breaking even," said U Kyaw Oo. Now using a fertigation system, he is spending 10 percent of what he previously spent on fertilizer and his labor costs have fallen. The family income has grown 40 percent with these savings and increased harvests. U Kyaw Oo is now expanding his fertigation use beyond tomatoes to other crops, including long beans, peanuts, and cucumbers. Although fertigation requires some initial investment, he explained that with the increased productivity, he will recover his investment in as little as six months. Experimenting with different rice seeds When it comes to growing rice, farmers in Shan State have limited options on the seeds they can use. They often rely on imported paddy used for one season and cannot be saved for future harvests. To introduce farmers to new, more productive rice varieties, UNDP has set up a demonstration farm in a southern Shan State village. Here farmers are taught sustainable practices, such as reducing chemical inputs and replacing them with organic alternatives, and managing pests effectively. By experimenting with different rice varieties, farmer U Win Myint discovered that basmati was best for his farm. It is a better-quality grain with higher market demand and price due to its popularity. "Unlike [the imported seeds], which are expensive and cannot be preserved for future use, basmati seeds can be stored and used for multiple years, providing long-term benefits," U Win Myint said, adding how he is even able to share surplus rice with his neighbours so they can grow it too. UNDP has also helped renovate a canal to ensure plentiful water is available for irrigation in the village. Now dry land around the canal can also be farmed, and the project provided temporary work and income for around 80 residents. With more water available, farmers can start growing paddy earlier. These activities are delivered through UNDP’s Enabling Community Recovery and Resilience (ENCORE) project. The pilots are showcasing technical options available to farmers in Shan State who can embrace and replicate new these innovative farming techniques, while UNDP continues to provide technical support. This article was originally published on the UNDP Myanmar website on August 23.

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17 October 2023

How beekeeping and clam farming are helping reduce poverty and protect Myanmar’s mangroves and coastal communities

In 2012, U Myo Oo experienced a turning point in his life. He was working as a high school teacher in his village in Tanintharyi Region’s Myeik when a private seafood company cleared 400 acres of mangrove forests along the shoreline to set up a shrimp farm. These mangroves were critical habitats for protecting fish and shellfish. Once they were destroyed, local fishers saw their catches drastically reduced, significantly impacting their livelihoods. “This served as a wake-up call, igniting my determination to protect these vital ecosystems and initiate the formation of community forests within these villages,” Myo said. He gave up work as a teacher, established the organization Green Network Tanintharyi Region, and started campaigning and educating people in neighboring villages about the threats posed by the destruction of mangrove habitats. One major victory was stopping that same seafood company from acquiring a further 700 acres of forest in 2016, and his lobbying helped mobilize support for the cause. Myanmar’s mangroves, stretching from Rakhine State, along the Ayeyarwaddy delta and down to Tanintharyi Region, are among the most extensive in south-east Asia, covering an estimated 4,450 square kilometers in 2020. They both provide a livelihood for those inhabiting coastal areas and serve as vital sea defenses, acting as a natural bulwark against tidal surges, cyclones and fierce winds, which are increasing in frequency and severity as Myanmar endures the impacts of climate change. Mangrove forests’ roots bind coastal soil to prevent erosion, and they store a substantial amount of carbon, helping to offset global carbon emissions. Preserving them reduces damage from extreme weather events and sustains critical biodiversity, including fish stocks that local communities depend on for their livelihood. Yet Myanmar’s mangroves are among the most under threat in the world. The National University of Singapore estimated that nearly two-thirds were deforested between 1996 and 2016 due to conversion to other uses, such as rice, palm oil, and rubber production. Despite being illegal, charcoal kilns are a common sight. The popularity and high prices that Tanintharyi Region’s mangrove charcoal fetches are a significant challenge, giving locals an incentive to chop down the forest wood at a time when Myanmar’s economic struggles mean other job opportunities are limited, which is also emptying villages of younger people who travel to Thailand where they can earn higher incomes. Strategies to reverse this trend are desperately needed. Yet Myanmar’s political crisis and widespread instability since the military took power in 2021 has hindered activities to address environmental issues, with systems in place to protect habitats weakened, funding diverted to other initiatives and civil society operating in a much more challenging environment. "Non-compliance with community forest rules by some locals due to a lack of law enforcement oversight to safeguard these mangroves and security concerns when expanding into new villages are among the hurdles we must overcome,” said U Myo Oo, adding how many international organizations worked on mangrove protection, but they have withdrawn since the military takeover. Despite this, UNDP is finding ways to protect the natural environment, improve people’s livelihoods and reduce poverty. We have been working with local organizations, including Green Network Tanintharyi Region and the Myanmar Environmental Rehabilitation-conservation Network, to help people see intrinsic value in their local mangrove forests and preserve those habitats. “It became imperative to introduce mangrove-friendly livelihood activities for the villagers. Without sustainable sources of income, there was a concern that they might resort to chopping down and selling mangroves,” U Myo Oo said, explaining that people would value mangroves more if they derived an income through them. “This led to community forest enterprise activities, including producing honey, crab and clam farming, and making kan zaw oil, a traditional medicine from the Myeik area.” Farming blood clams in the shallows U Tun Kyaw Aung is now farming blood clams in the mangrove forest in his village in Myeik. UNDP and its partners provided the training and 5,000,000 Myanmar kyats ($3,000) in start-up funds. “We set up bamboo poles in the water to create a protective enclosure. A green plastic netting then surrounds this enclosure. The next step involves breaking up and softening hard mud, as clam larvae can only thrive in very soft mud. Then we can begin the clam harvesting process. But we must conduct daily checks, as natural predators such as fish, snails, and crabs can infiltrate the farm and eat our clams,” he said. “After six months of hard work, we can finally take the clams to the market. They are picked, sorted, bagged, and then sold.” Although they did not turn a profit in the first year due to predators eating the clams, they have received further training on managing these pests and employed someone whose job it is to monitor the clams. If the three-year project succeeds, the community can potentially make more than five times the investment in profits, some of which will be used for mangrove conservation, community development, and education. The profits give Daw Ni Ni Ni San hope for her 15-year-old son’s education. “He's passionate about fashion design and dreams of becoming a designer. Supporting his aspirations, I intend to enrol him in one of the fashion design schools in Myeik,” she said. Beekeeping in the branches In another village, 50 people harness their nearby mangrove community forest to make organic honey, hanging beehives from the trees. This is providing an essential income for Aung Ko Ko’s family. "With just four or five acres of land where I cultivate rubber, betel nuts and coconuts, I often struggled to earn a sufficient income. At times, I had to work as a day laborer on other people's farms,” he said. Now, he looks after 20 beehives. After five months, Aung Ko Ko earned 500,000 kyats ($240) from selling the honey. For every 10 bottles of honey sold, the proceeds from one bottle are invested in the community enterprise, covering the costs of security patrols and management of the mangrove forest. “I earned this income without any upfront investment thanks to the support from UNDP. I am so grateful for this opportunity and eagerly anticipate the upcoming bee season to repeat this success,” Aung Ko Ko said, adding how he uses the money to buy food and other essentials for his family. “I am eager to share my experiences and knowledge with fellow community members interested in beekeeping, to provide guidance, share dos and don'ts, and help others embark on their beekeeping journey." Titon Mitra, UNDP Myanmar Resident Representative, said: “While it may not be possible to enact change at a nationwide scale, community by community, UNDP is improving both the landscape and the lives of those most at risk to the economic and climate change challenges afflicting Myanmar.” UNDP, with funding from the Government of Norway, has provided 20 communities with business and forest management training, funding and equipment to help develop livelihoods that value and protect mangroves, covering over 11,000 acres of forests in Mon State and Tanintharyi Region and a population of more than 33,000. *This article was originally published on the UNDP Myanmar website on 12 October 2023.

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10 October 2023

Healing Through Resilience: A Journey of Transformation and Hope through Mental Health and Psychosocial Support

Meet Zin Mar***, a remarkable young woman who found her path from darkness to light, from pain to purpose, through the power of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services. While there is a lack of studies on mental health prevalence in Myanmar, estimates of high levels of MHPSS needs have been verified in studies on the mental health of Myanmar nationals living as refugees in neighboring countries. Further evidence can be found in the 2015 Global Burden of Disease Study, which reports that depressive and anxiety disorders are among the top 10 health problems that cause the most disability in Myanmar. A recent study of Counseling Corner Myanmar conducted in 2022 found that 1 in 4 individuals are experiencing moderately severe to severe depression, especially among young people under 25 years old, and a significantly higher level of depression in one of the heavy fighting states in Myanmar. Women and girls are known to be at increased vulnerability due to conflict and displacement, more exposed to risks of gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and abuse, and harmful coping mechanisms, all of which could negatively impact their mental health and psychosocial well-being. Born in a small town in Ayeyarwaddy region, Zin Mar was the middle child of three siblings, raised by her grandparents from the age of two. The label of "the Saturday-born misfortune bearer" is fueled by stories that her father's behavior changed negatively when her mother became pregnant with her. These early perceptions weighed heavily on her, leading her to believe she was not meant to exist. A dark shadow hung over her young life was further intensified when she was abused by someone she trusted. The pain was kept locked within her, festering over the years. "I became a child who barely smiled or laughed and was considered problematic for being ill-mannered and running away from home at night," Zin Mar recalled. As she grew older, the abuse was repeated, planting deep guilt and shame within her. The belief was that she would be blamed, discriminated and repelled if she spoke up. The trauma haunted her days and nights, manifesting as nightmares, flashbacks, and even blackouts. She tried to balance her life between surviving the trauma, shouldering family responsibilities, and pursuing education. She participated in community support service, and it offered moments of solace. But when she heard about gender-based violence cases and abuses, it triggered her into self-harm, alcohol addiction, and thoughts of suicide. Zin Mar took a pivotal turn when she connected with MHPSS Online Platform, supported by UNFPA. She said, “Through professional counseling and support, I found a way to coexist with my trauma. The nightmares and flashbacks gradually faded, replaced by a sense of safety and hope”. Zin Mar has changed into a person of self-acceptance and self-appreciation. "Because of this experience and support, I felt alive again. I realized what I wanted in life, my dreams, and the things I love. Now I have become a person blessed with self-acceptance and self-appreciation – capable of helping other people," she shared with a renewed sense of purpose. Her gratitude spotlights the impact of the UNFPA’s Mental Health and Psychosocial Support program, "This MHPSS Online Platform is important for people in pain mentally. Therefore, I sincerely wish that MHPSS services can be scaled up much further to ensure helping people in need." MHPSS services mainly rely on humanitarian organizations, while psychiatric services have become more challenging due to the current political crisis. Even among humanitarian actors, they have limited staff trained in MHPSS; further technical support is required to ensure the quality of care by the humanitarian actors delivering MHPSS services. Adib Asrori, UNFPA MHPSS Programme Specialist said, “In order to respond to the increasing demand for such support in a timely manner, UNFPA Myanmar established the MHPSS Roster Team in May 2020 to provide capacity-building and self-care/staff care support to its partners by providing training as well as regular mentoring and supervision. We also developed a ‘Model of Stepped Care,’ ensuring interventions are delivered to meet the clients' varying needs while adhering to the do no harm principles.” To continue with capacity-building efforts and ongoing mentoring and supervision, especially at the field level, UNFPA initiated MHPSS peer support networks (PSN) in Rakhine, Kachin, Southern Shan, Northern Shan, Kayin, and Kayah. Mr. Asrori continued, “With the increasing need for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, UNFPA has created the MHPSS online platform to connect those who need MHPSS services and Mental Health Professionals in May 2021.” As a result, from the establishment of this platform in May 2021 until August 2023, UNFPA provided 612 sessions for more than 350 clients across Myanmar. Zin Mar’s journey serves as a beacon of hope, illustrating the transformation that arises from the integration of mental health and psychosocial support with lifesaving services, sexual and reproductive health, and gender-based violence services for women and girls in Myanmar. Through her resilience and the support of the UN in Myanmar and partner organizations, her story inspires countless others to find healing, reclaim their lives, and nurture a brighter future. ***Name and personal information in the story have been changed to protect the individual's identity. This story was originally published on the UNFPA Myanmar website on 9 October 2023.

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11 September 2023

Women’s organizations remain at the front line of the crisis response in Myanmar

In Rakhine State, Myanmar, the productive fields are left unharvested. Normally teeming with agricultural workers—the majority of whom are women and girls from the local villages—the fertile landscape has become another deadly battlefield. Landmines, planted after the military coup in 2021, are causing soaring numbers of civilian casualties. Women and girls who dare to venture into rural fields alone, also face threats of sexual violence. A UN Women survey of 2,200 women in Myanmar found that half of them were afraid to leave their immediate neighbourhoods. In Rakhine and Kachin States, the risks of violence are associated with shrinking mobility of women and girls. But staying at home has its own challenges. Rates of gender-based violence (GBV) are growing in households, as tensions rise over severe hunger and poverty. “There are no opportunities and no income, so the women and girls are beaten,” says Win*, a representative of a local women’s organization in Myanmar. The lifeline: Only local partners can reach women and girls impacted by GBV At a time when women and girls desperately need humanitarian support, external borders have been closed to international humanitarian workers. Instead, it is local women-led and women’s rights organizations and other local actors that have stepped up to shoulder the delivery of critical services to crisis-affected communities, often at great personal risk. Since 2021, UN Women has supported 91 local women’s organizations in Myanmar through training on leadership, representation, advocacy skills, and awareness raising on humanitarian decision-making mechanisms and processes, contributing to increased access to tools and resources available in humanitarian planning and response processes and mechanisms. The work has been carried out in partnership with UNFPA, through a grant from the Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF). More than 30 per cent of that funding has directly supported local women-led and women’s rights organizations. Without them, says Rowena Dacsig, programme specialist for UN Women Myanmar, women and girls in Myanmar would be missing their last remaining lifeline. Beyond the military checkpoints of Kachin and Rakhine States, local women-led and women’s rights organizations have delivered critical services to women and girls who have experienced or are at risk of GBV, such as psychosocial counselling and humanitarian items like dignity kits, which include basic sanitary and hygiene supplies. Local organizations have also been supported by UN Women to provide livelihood services, including financial skills development training and agricultural activities to 4,094 GBV survivors and women at risk, many of whom are now responsible for household income and earnings as husbands and sons are recruited by armed groups. “Only those organizations which have local partners can carry on with their work”, says Dacsig. “Otherwise, the services to survivors and those at risk of GBV, including in internally displaced persons camps, would have ceased completely. Without these local partners, we’d be totally blind to the needs of women and girls in Myanmar because little to no information is coming out of these communities.” In return, she adds, UN Women and UNFPA have also supported local women’s organizations through trainings on topics such as protection against sexual abuse and exploitation, upholding accountability within affected populations, and conducting risk assessments and gender analysis to inform delivery of critical services, for example, in relation to protection and livelihoods. * Name has been changed to protect the privacy of the individual. **This story was originally published by UN Women - Women’s organizations remain at the front line of the crisis response in Myanmar | UN Women – Headquarters.

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11 September 2023

Theresa's Journey of Hope amidst Myanmar's Political Challenges

The political instability that has been affecting Myanmar since 2021 has proved difficult for communities across the country, including those from border areas between Shan and Kayah states. Theresa, a mother of two from Shan’s Pekon Township, across from Kayah State, moved to an internally displaced person’s (IDP) site in Taunggyi in Shan. “We often heard fighting and explosions because our home in Pekon was close to a conflict area, so we fled to Taunggyi for our safety. My husband remains there to secure our home, and at the same time, he is also working and sending us remittances.” Upon arriving at the IDP site, Theresa built a small hut to lodge in with the support of other Kayah people who also left their homes. “It was really freezing there and we were getting sick. When we first arrived, some people already there gave us some food. But I was very sad at having to stay in this desolate area surrounded by hills.” Theresa explained that though the initial period of settlement was tough, their situation eventually stabilized with the support she received from Parami Development Network, IOM's partner in Shan that's supporting displaced populations.* “The rice and oil we received truly helped to ease our burden. The health examinations, medicine and blankets, especially, as they helped to ensure the well-being of my precious children.” Hoping to supplement her income, she attended a farming and animal husbandry training, as well as received coaching on using these skills for income generation. “I received some small capital which I’m using to breed livestock, such as chickens and pigs. I hope to get some extra income from this, and I also plan to use what I learned once I’m able to go back home.” Though local organizations are doing their best to support, many needs remain at IDP sites, such as for healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure. “There are many families with children living here, and with high demand for water, the camp sometimes runs out of petrol to run the water pumps.” Theresa of course hopes to one day be able to return to her home. “I need to enroll my kids in school as they are almost old enough.” While the situation remains challenging, she remains determined to make it through this. “It’s not easy here but we have to do any job we can find or think of. Most of us here can brew Kayah millet wine and make Kayah sausages. If there is demand for these, we can support our livelihoods.” *Note: The South-East is one of the areas of Myanmar most affected by the current political instability. Theresa is one of over 34,000 internally displaced and vulnerable individuals in Southern Shan that IOM and PDN have assisted with funding support from the Livelihoods and Food Security Fund (LIFT). **This story was originally published on the IOM Myanmar website on 4 August 2023.

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31 July 2023

Displaced families in Myanmar brace for monsoon season in cyclone aftermath

Each year, between June and October, communities across Myanmar’s Rakhine State brace themselves for the near-daily deluges that sweep across the region during the monsoon season. This year, the monsoon will bring unique challenges. In May, Cyclone Mocha, the most severe storm to hit Myanmar since Cyclone Nargis struck in 2008, made landfall on Rakhine State’s coast, causing widespread destruction. Two months after it pummelled western Myanmar and southern Bangladesh, scenes of devastation can still be seen along roads radiating out from Sittwe, the state capital. Buildings with collapsed walls, missing roofs, and broken windows, interspersed with fallen electrical poles and other damaged infrastructure, dot the landscape. Rakhine State is home to over 228,000 internally displaced people forced from their homes by bouts of intercommunal violence and conflict, including 157,000 ethnic Rohingya who have been living in overcrowded camps since 2012. In Dar Paing, a camp for over 12,000 internally displaced Rohingya, debris and waterlogged soil stretches for as far as the eye can see. The camp was among the hardest hit by the cyclone, with 10 recorded deaths. Sittwe Township, where Dar Paing is located, is at the confluence of three rivers that flow into the Indian Ocean – the Kaladan, Lay Myo and Mayu. The township was in the cyclone’s direct path and the accompanying storm surge triggered large-scale flooding in low-lying areas, causing a still-unknown number of casualties. The community in Dar Paing had little time to mourn. With the monsoon rains already starting, residents of the camp are attempting to rebuild as best they can before the rainy season reaches its peak. But so far, only a fraction of damaged and destroyed shelters have been repaired, and thousands of people remain exposed to the elements. “Our community is facing a lot of challenges. A lot of people need help to fix their roofs. The rains have arrived, and I am worried the situation will become unsustainable,” says Amraan, a community volunteer at the camp. The monsoon season adds to the hardships faced by communities already living on the brink. The Rohingya face severe discrimination in Myanmar, impeding their access to fundamental rights. Many live in extreme poverty due to restrictions on their freedom of movement that have limited their ability to earn an income and access basic services such as education and healthcare. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and local partners are redoubling efforts to assist both displaced and non-displaced communities by ramping up their assistance in areas where the de facto authorities have granted limited humanitarian access. Work is ongoing in displacement camps and villages to quickly distribute tarpaulins and reconstruct communal longhouses. To date, over 100,000 people have received shelter assistance and basic household items. “Needs for the monsoon this year are immense,” says Federico Sersale, UNHCR’s Head of Office in Sittwe. “While we have been able to reach a large number of people, increased access is needed so we can reach more communities and help them stay protected from the rain.” Stories of loss and hardship abound all along the Rakhine coast. Abia Khartu, 63, an ethnic Rohingya from Basara village, lost her home and belongings to the cyclone. “[After the cyclone hit], I was in shock. I could not even find my house. Everything has been destroyed,” she says. She now lives in a makeshift shelter covered by a tarpaulin provided by UNHCR. The space inside is spartan with few personal items besides a sleeping mat, bucket, blanket and kitchen set. These basic household items are distributed by UNHCR and partners to help communities cope with the loss of their belongings. Longer-term solutions needed No community in the path of the cyclone was spared. In downtown Sittwe, residents of Ngai Sa Rai Monastery worry about the damaged state of communal shelters and facilities. “The cyclone destroyed 10 of the 12 latrines here. Now, there are long waits every morning and we also lack bathing spaces for women,” Ma Soe Yai, 31, says. The Buddhist monastery has been a refuge for 35 Rakhine families since they were displaced by the conflict between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar Armed Forces in 2020. Every communal longhouse at the site, each housing up to six families, sustained moderate to severe damage from the cyclone. “It’s difficult for me to not worry. My roof leaks whenever it rains. If another storm comes, my shelter might collapse. I am miserable,” says Ma Soe Yai. UNHCR is working closely with partner organizations to ensure tarpaulins are distributed, damaged shelters are reconstructed, and communal facilities are repaired. Nearby in Set Yon Su Ward, an informal settlement where a small number of displaced ethnic Rakhine live, U Aye Dun, 65, has recently finished reconstructing his shelter which collapsed during the storm. Topped with a white tarpaulin provided by UNHCR, it took him over two weeks to reconstruct his home. “I fixed everything myself. I have skills in bamboo craft, so I was able to rebuild my shelter without hiring additional labour. Otherwise, it would have been extremely expensive,” he says. But as a daily wage labourer, U Aye Dun was unable to earn an income while he was rebuilding. Many others in this economically vulnerable community face the dilemma of having to forgo daily wages to fix their shelters so they can stay dry during the monsoon. As commodity prices skyrocket in the aftermath of the cyclone, the provision of tarpaulins and basic household items has provided some much-needed relief to vulnerable families. But more remains to be done. The UN estimates that at least 657,000 people across Rakhine need help with shelter, up from 390,000 people before the cyclone hit. Many are in hard-to-reach locations with limited humanitarian access. “Our priority right now is to ensure people have a roof over their heads, but it is also important to continue to support displaced communities with long-term solutions, including access to basic rights and services, and help to return to their places of origin or preference,” says UNHCR’s Sersale.

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Press Release

05 October 2023

ILO Myanmar Commission of Inquiry finds far-reaching violations of freedom of association and forced labour Conventions

GENEVA (ILO News) - The International Labour Organization’s Commission of Inquiry for Myanmar, has concluded that the actions taken by the military authorities since February 2021 have resulted in far-reaching restrictions on the exercise of basic civil liberties and trade union rights, as well as in the incapacity of trade unionists to engage in trade union activities.

Such actions violate Myanmar's obligations under the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No.87) .

The Commission also found that Myanmar did not comply with its obligations under the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No.29) , since the military continues to exact different types of forced labour in the context of armed conflict. It also said there is a lack of adequate enforcement of the prohibition of forced or compulsory labour.

Its report urged the Myanmar military authorities to take “immediate action, so as to stop egregious violations of the two Conventions and prevent further abuses.”

The Commission was established by the ILO Governing Body in March 2022, following the takeover by the Myanmar military authorities in February 2021 and the military’s suppression of pro-democracy protests.

It was tasked with assessing reports of violence against trade union leaders, severe and repeated violations of basic civil liberties and a resurgence of forced labour.

The three independent experts who conducted the inquiry gathered written submissions from various entities and had direct contacts with persons affected by the complex political, human rights, humanitarian and economic crisis, as well as those having expert knowledge of the issues raised. While the Commission had no access to the country, it was able to obtain extensive information on the situation through these witnesses.

In accordance with Article 28 of the ILO Constitution, the report of the Commission of Inquiry sets out its findings, conclusions and recommendations with respect to the above matters.

The recommendations urge the military authorities to immediately cease all forms of violence, torture and other inhumane treatment against trade union leaders and members; to release and withdraw all criminal charges against trade unionists detained in relation to the exercise of their civil liberties and legitimate trade union activities; and to fully restore the protection of basic civil liberties suspended since the coup d’état. The recommendations also urge the military authorities to end the exaction of all forms of forced or compulsory labour by the army and its associated forces, as well as forced recruitment into the army.

The report sets out further recommendations to be implemented once the country returns to a situation of governance through democratic institutions and processes. It calls on all relevant parties to strive to achieve a peaceful transition to fully democratic rule.

The report of the Commission of Inquiry has been sent to the Permanent Mission of Myanmar in Geneva. Myanmar has three months to announce whether or not it accepts the recommendations; and if not, whether it proposes to refer the matter to the International Court of Justice.

This is the 14th Commission of Inquiry established in more than 100 years of ILO history to investigate allegations of serious non-observance of ratified international labour standards. Such Commissions represent the highest level of ILO supervisory mechanisms.

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Press Release

27 September 2023

Myanmar: ‘Inhumanity in its vilest form’ continues, warns Türk

“Each day, the people of Myanmar are enduring horrifying attacks, flagrant human rights violations and the crumbling of their livelihoods and hopes,” said Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. He was briefing the Human Rights Council – the UN’s primary body for the protection and promotion of rights globally, including findings since his July report was issued. Junta’s ruthless repression Mr. Türk emphasized the military’s blatant disregard for fundamental principles of humanity as well as the Security Council’s repeated demands for an immediate cessation of hostilities and unhindered humanitarian access. “We are faced here with a system of ruthless repression designed to coerce and subjugate its people and to erode a society so that the predatory interests of the military are preserved,” he said. “Senseless military attacks are exacerbating the human rights crisis with interconnected humanitarian, political, and economic impacts, imposing an unbearable toll on the people in Myanmar.” Muzzling free press He also voiced concerns over the military’s denial of humanitarian access to those affected by Cyclone Mocha in May, particularly in Rakhine state, where widowed Rohingya women have reportedly been forced to beg for food. The military also threatened legal action against anyone reporting a different death toll from the massive disaster to the junta’s official figure of 116 deaths. In this context, a photojournalist was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by a military for covering the post-cyclone situation in Rakhine, the biggest sentence handed down to a journalist since the 2021 coup. Reliance on foreign sources Mr. Türk pointed to three specific military tactics employed against civilians: airstrikes, mass killings, and the burning of villages. Between April 2022 and May 2023, the military conducted 687 airstrikes, more than double the number in the preceding 14 months. The report corroborated data confirming that the increased use of air power, along with heavy weaponry, military hardware and aviation fuel, “can only be purchased from foreign sources”, the rights chief said. ‘Inhumanity in its vilest form’ Mr. Türk further reported that ground operations resulted in 22 documented mass killings – involving the murder of ten or more individuals. Witnesses described soldiers using horrific methods to inflicting pain on civilians, including burning alive, beheading, dismemberment, rape and more. “This is inhumanity in its vilest form,” the High Commissioner said, stating that entire villages were set ablaze, leading to the destruction of over 75,000 structures, driving displacement and increasing humanitarian needs. Civilian rule has vanished “Civilian rule of law in Myanmar has vanished, with the military deliberately eroding the foundations of governance and justice in the country,” Mr. Türk said, urging the Security Council to refer the situation to the International Criminal Court (ICC). According to credible sources, 24,836 people have been arrested, 19,264 are still detained, and 150 have been sentenced to death by military-controlled courts that lack any independence or adherence to due process or fair trial rights.

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Press Release

24 August 2023

Comment by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Myanmar

In all, over a million Rohingya have fled persecution and systematic discrimination to seek international refugee protection in Bangladesh, and more than 100,000 others are being held in closed displacement camps inside Myanmar. In a sign of their desperation, thousands more continue to attempt dangerous sea crossings from Myanmar and Bangladesh, too often ending in tragedy.

More must be done to hold the military to account for their repeated campaigns of persecution against the Rohingya, and for driving the country into its current human rights and humanitarian crisis. In the face of the impunity enjoyed by the Myanmar military for past and present crimes against the Rohingya as well as other groups, I call on States fully to support the ongoing international accountability efforts. Having spent many years trying to ease the plight of the Rohingya, my most fervent wish is for them to be able to return to their homes in dignity, in freedom and properly recognised as part of the diversity of Myanmar’s population. Their human rights must be fully respected and their security guaranteed. This is currently not the case given the precarious conditions in Rakhine State. Furthermore, the military has shown no willingness to address systematic discrimination against the Rohingya. In the face of competing crises, the international community must not forget the Rohingya people or their host community in Bangladesh. Humanitarian appeals for supporting the Rohingya, both in Myanmar and in the camps in Bangladesh, need greater support and funding. At the same time, third countries should expand Rohingya resettlement programmes or provide temporary protection, particularly in the region. And international efforts must be redoubled to reverse course in Myanmar and to ensure accountability and justice.

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Press Release

19 August 2023

Statement by the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), on the occasion of World Humanitarian Day

In Myanmar, active conflicts and natural disasters have led to surging displacement and unparalleled hardships. Nearly 18 million people (one-third of the population) urgently require humanitarian aid in 2023. Despite escalating complexities and multiplying challenges, our resilient humanitarians continue to rise above difficulties to deliver life-saving support. Local and national humanitarian partners have demonstrated unwavering resolve in supporting their fellow citizens, employing innovative approaches to reach conflict-affected and disaster-stricken areas. Their determination remains focused on the singular goal of preserving lives. Throughout the first half of 2023, these partners provided shelter, food, health services, education, protection, and more to 1.8 million men, women, and children affected by conflicts and natural disasters, achieving 36 percent of their target. However, the journey is far from over. Completing this mission amidst insecurity and continual challenges demands safeguarding the lives of these brave humanitarians and ensuring unhindered access to those in need. Financial support is equally vital to deliver comprehensive assistance to the people of Myanmar who are grappling with the compounding consequences of COVID-19, conflict, economic crisis, and natural disasters. Nonetheless, almost eight months into 2023, the Humanitarian Response Plan and Cyclone Mocha Flash Appeal are only funded at 25 per cent. This shortfall hinders our ability to provide timely and extensive aid. On this World Humanitarian Day, we implore all parties to uphold international human rights and humanitarian laws, including ensuring humanitarian access and protecting aid workers. We also call upon the donor community to escalate their financial contributions, thereby reaffirming their commitment to the resilient people of Myanmar who endure this multi-faceted crisis. In the spirit of humanity, let us stand united and resolute in our determination to protect lives and alleviate suffering no matter what and where.

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