Myanmar Emergency Update (as of 1 May 2024)

OVERVIEW

Internal displacement in Myanmar has reached a record high. Over three million people have been forced to flee their homes in just six months – a sharp increase of 50 per cent. Chin, Magway and Sagaing regions in North-West Myanmar host the highest number of those displaced at nearly 1.5 million people. Frequent airstrikes, armed clashes, civilian property destruction and arrests continue to exact a heavy toll, resulting in civilian casualties, injuries, and further forced displacement. The security landscape in Rakhine State has deteriorated drastically amid ongoing armed conflict. Humanitarian access for all UN agencies and INGOs has been mostly restricted since early November 2023 when fighting resumed. Armed clashes in Kayin State have also severely impacted civilians, causing a surge in new displacement within Myanmar and across the border into Thailand. The security situation in southern Kachin State, including urban areas, has also worsened significantly, leading displaced families living in protracted camps to relocate to safer locations in rural areas. UNHCR and partners are exploring ways to adapt to the volatile situation and provide critical assistance where possible despite access constraints.

In Thailand, fighting near the 2nd Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in Mae Sot District and around Myawaddy Town in Myanmar’s Kayin State, resulted in some 3,000 refugees crossing into Thailand in two waves. Between 2 and 5 April, the Royal Thai Government (RTG) reported that close to 80 refugees were received in Nong Luang Temporary Safety Area (TSA) in Umphang District in Tak Province and remained there as of 1 May. Between 19 and 22 April, the RTG reported that close to 3,000 Myanmar refugees crossed into Mae Sot and were sheltered in TSAs. However, by 23 April, authorities reported that this group had returned to Myanmar. At the request of the RTG, UNHCR and humanitarian partners provided food and core-relief items (CRIs) to provincial authorities. UNHCR did not have access to the TSAs, and as such, protection assessments were not possible. UNHCR and partners are advocating with authorities for protection actors to gain access to the TSAs.

Since February 2021, approximately 60,400 individuals from Myanmar’s North-West region have sought protection in India. Out of this population, 6,213 individuals are in New Delhi and have registered with UNHCR. As the monsoon season approaches, the humanitarian needs of Myanmar arrivals in Mizoram and Manipur are escalating, requiring more assistance such as mosquito nets and health facilities/services. Although humanitarian agencies and state governments are mobilizing the necessary support, there is a pressing need for additional resources to sufficiently address the needs of the Myanmar arrivals.