UNICEF Myanmar Humanitarian Situation Report No. 9

Highlights

• More than 500,000 people have been newly displaced and are in urgent need of humanitarian support due to the intense fighting between the Myanmar Armed Forces and various ethnic armed organizations in many parts of the country.

• Nearly 150,000 people have been newly displaced in the northwest and in Mandalay since early November. Shortage of essential items, rising prices and fuel crisis exacerbating the humanitarian situation.

• UNICEF and partners have reached 477,543 affected people with WASH supplies and services includes 75,774 girls and 77,506 boys.

• A total of 534,983 children below the age of one were vaccinated against measles and rubella, while 73,742 people receiving primary health care services.

Situation in numbers

5,800,000 children in need of humanitarian assistance

18,100,000 people in need (HAC 2023)

1,858,600 Internally displaced people after 1 February 2021 (UNHCR)

59,500 People displaced to neighbouring countries since 1 February 2021

306,200 people living in protracted displacement before February 2021

Funding Overview and Partnerships

UNICEF Myanmar appealed for US$217.9 million in 2023 to address the needs of 3.7 million people, including 2.3 million children. During this reporting period, UNICEF secured US$32.45 million (US$23.23 million in 2023 and $9.22 million carried over from 2022), representing 14.9 per cent of its 2023 Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) appeal.

UNICEF received this generous support from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), the United States Fund for UNICEF, the Humanitarian Aid Department of the European Commission (European Commission/ECHO), the Government of Canada, the Government of Japan, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Government of Norway, the Royal Thai Government, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), the World Health Organization (WHO), the French Committee for UNICEF, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance and UNICEF global humanitarian thematic funding.

With these resources, UNICEF and partners continue to deliver much-needed services in nutrition, health, HIV/AIDS, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), education, child protection, gender-based violence in emergencies, social protection and cash-based programming, social behaviour change and accountability to affected populations.

UNICEF also provided humanitarian leadership, cluster coordination and strengthened protection against sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA). As of reporting period, the funding gap stands out at 85 per cent, which is severely affecting UNICEF’s capacity to respond. Without these resources, targeted populations, especially children, who need basic social services will not be able to receive humanitarian assistance.

UNICEF continues its efforts to mobilize resources and expresses its sincere appreciation to all private and public sector donors for their contributions to supporting the children of Myanmar.

Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs

Intense fighting between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and various ethnic armed organizations has been escalating in many parts of the country, particularly in northern Shan, Rakhine, Kayah, Sagaing and Chin. The situation remains volatile with continued fighting and large-scale civilian displacement, including amongst children. At the time of reporting, more than 500,000 people had been newly displaced within northern and southern Shan, Kayah, Rakhine, Chin, Sagaing, Mandalay, eastern Bago, Kayin, Mon and Tanintharyi since late October, with 283 people dead including children and 334 injured. Tension remains because of the fighting; humanitarian work has been suspended while the people who have been displaced, and who are in urgent need of humanitarian support, move from one township to another in search of safety. Movement restrictions have led to significant increases in commodity prices, as well as food and fuel shortages. Armed clashes across different townships have also disrupted the rice harvest.

In northern Shan, armed clashes continued in several townships, resulting in 95 dead and 152 injured and an upsurge of internally displaced people to nearly 84,000 in 16 townships.2 Many families have fled to the China-Myanmar border in northern Shan, Pyin Oo Lwin township in Mandalay and Mansi township in Kachin. An increasing number of people are fleeing from Laukkaing, Chin Shwe Haw and Kunlong to places along the border with China and to Namtit, the principal town of the Wa Self-Administered Division of Shan State. There are 50,000 displaced people in Laukkaing with minimal humanitarian assistance. Lashio Airport remains closed and roads from Lashio to other conflict-affected areas are totally blocked. The road from Lashio to Mandalay and southern Shan is passable, though complicated by the presence of multiple checkpoints. Telecommunications and the Internet are accessible in Lashio but limited in other areas, particularly in the townships bordering China such as Monekoe, Kunlong and Namhkan. The State Administration Council (SAC) has imposed martial law in eight townships, including Lashio, Hseni, Kutkai, Namhkan, Muse, Laukkaing, Kunlong and Konekyan, which is exacerbating the challenges civilians already face.

Armed hostilities have escalated in Rakhine state with intense clashes between the MAF and the Arakan Army, including in Pauktaw, northern townships in Rakhine, in central Rakhine and in Paletwa, southern Chin. There have reportedly been civilian casualties and displacements in several townships due to artillery shelling and gunfire. Main roads and waterways movement have been blocked, resulting in the suspension of humanitarian aid. Since 13 November, 69,000 people were newly displaced in Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Minbya, Mrauk-U, Myebon, Pauktaw, Ponnagyun, Rathedaung and Paletwa townships with at least 20 fatalities and more than 85 injuries3. The security situation in Pauktaw township remains alarming, with more than 20,000 people displaced since mid-November and with at least 12 fatalities.4 Hundreds of people remain trapped, unable to move to safer areas.

In the southeast, fighting has progressively spread in Loikaw, Demoso, Hpruso in Kayah, at the Shan-Kayah border, Kayin, Mon states and eastern Bago, resulting in at least 78 civilian deaths and 55 injuries. More than 180,000 people have been displaced since the escalation began and are in need of urgent relief aid.5 Humanitarian access in Kayah remains extremely restricted due to the ongoing conflict, aerial bombardment and heightened scrutiny of partners at checkpoints. Attacks on civilians and displacement sites have also been reported in Loikaw township in Kayah, with the main airport closed and martial law in effect. An estimated 21,000 people have been displaced in Kayah state, with some 1,000 internally displaced persons in the eastern part of Loikaw urgently needing shelter, food, WASH services and health care.Fighting has been intensifying and more than 16,000 people from Kyarinnseikkyi in Kayin and Kyaikmaraw in Mon states are displaced and are in immediate need of humanitarian assistance. The main road between Kyaikmaraw-Chaung Nakwa and Mudon-Chaung Nakwa has been blocked.

In Kachin State, intense fighting has been reported in the townships of Bhamo, Hpakant, Mansi, Momauk, Myitkyina, Shwegu, Tsawlaw and Waingmaw, leading to cutting-off of telephone and internet services. Myitkyina-Mandalay Road has been blocked intermittently since mid-November.

In the northwest, armed clashes have affected 40 townships, including Falam and Matupi in Chin; Madaya in Mandalay; and Indaw, Kawlin, Pinlebu, Tamu and Tigyaing in Sagaing and in Magway region. Nearly 150,000 people have been newly displaced in the northwest and Mandalay since the fighting began to escalate in early November. Hostilities have killed 90 civilians, and injured 42, including children, and destroyed more than 100 houses. Humanitarian access remains restricted due to roadblocks and fighting; disruption of telecommunications and closure of Kale airport. About 5,000 internally displaced persons from Falam township have been displaced to the India-Myanmar border area in Chin. Of them, some 3,000 internally displaced persons have reportedly crossed the border to seek refuge in India, while the remainder is seeking safety in forest areas within Falam township.