UNICEF Myanmar Humanitarian Situation Report No. 9, 2024

Highlights

• Nearly 3.5 million people are internally displaced across the country and facing severe shortages of food, clean water, healthcare, and education support.
• In the first nine months of 2024, 889 casualties were reported from incidents involving landmine and explosive remnants of war (ERW), which highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions to mitigate risks and protect civilians.
• More than 2 million children aged between 6–59 months have been reached with vitamin A supplementation, and more than 0.4 million children aged under one year have been vaccinated against measles with the support of UNICEF.
• The significant funding gap against the Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) appeal persists. Timely and sufficient funding is crucial in providing immediate assistance for children and their families.

Situation in Numbers

6,000,000 children in need of humanitarian assistance

18,600,000 people in need (HAC 2024)

3,178,700 Internally displaced people since 1 February 2021

69,900 People displaced to neighbouring countries since 1 February 2021 (UNHCR, 28 October 2024)

277,500 People displaced before February 2021

Funding Overview & Partnerships

UNICEF Myanmar Country Office is appealing for US $208.3 million in 2024 to address the needs of 3.1 million people, including an estimated 2.1 million children. By the end of November 2024, UNICEF secured $48.1 million (23 per cent of its appeal), comprising $34.9 million received for the current year and $13.2 million carried forward from 2023.

In 2024, UNICEF has received generous funding support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the European Commission’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Department (DG ECHO), the Government of France, the German Federal Foreign Office, the Government of Japan, the Government of Norway, the Government of the Republic of Korea, the Royal Thai Government, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the Country-Based Pooled Fund (CBPF), the Education Cannot Wait Fund, the Australian Committee for UNICEF, the Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF, and internal allocations from global and regional humanitarian thematic funding. UNICEF also acknowledges the contributions in previous years by BHA, DFAT, DG ECHO, the Government of Canada, the Government of Japan, the Government of Norway, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Royal Thai Government, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), along with CERF and CBPF, the Czech Committee for UNICEF and the French Committee for UNICEF. UNICEF Myanmar also received an internal loan from the Emergency Programme Fund to support its humanitarian response.

These resources enable UNICEF and its partners to deliver humanitarian services in nutrition, health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), education, child protection, gender-based violence in emergencies (GBViE), social protection and cash-based programming. While digital modalities are enabling UNICEF and partners to reach populations through mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), delivering MHPSS directly to individuals and groups is contingent on physical access and the availability of resources. UNICEF is also providing humanitarian leadership roles in the WASH Cluster, the Nutrition Cluster, the Child Protection Area of Responsibility (CP AoR) and the Mine Action Area of Responsibility (MA AoR), It also co-leads the Education Cluster. UNICEF is strengthening protection against sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) while promoting social behaviour-change and accountability to affected populations.

A severe funding shortfall of 77 per cent is significantly reducing the services UNICEF can provide. Without additional funding, vulnerable populations, especially children, will not be able to receive urgently needed 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.

UNICEF has released the Myanmar Humanitarian Action for Children appeal for 2025, asking for $286.4 million funding, in accordance with the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, to provide the critical life-saving services to conflictaffected and vulnerable children and women.

Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs

The humanitarian situation in Myanmar continues to deteriorate, with fighting between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and various armed groups across multiple states and regions. The situation has led to increasing displacement, with nearly 3.5 million people1 fleeing their homes by the end of November. People in temporary shelters or informal camps are facing severe shortages of food, clean water and health care. Myanmar is ranked the highest in conflict index and has the most armed splinter groups2 and mounting civilian casualties caused by persistent conflict. Twelve states and regions out of 15 are affected with the fighting and people, especially children, are struggling to survive because of threats to their security and protection. Enforcement of conscription across the country and forced recruitment by different armed groups are increasing people’s anxiety and insecurity.3 The continuing problems caused by landmines and unexploded ordinance (UXO) remains a serious threat. The clashes, and the restrictions imposed by all parties, are the main obstacles in accessing affected people and in providing life-saving support and social services. Humanitarian agencies have also been forced to postpone or delay activities due to unexpected road closures, and bureaucratic barriers, including travel authorization refusals and heightened scrutiny at checkpoints. Continued violence against, and threats to, humanitarian workers, assets and facilities have severely disrupted operations.

The current humanitarian situation and displacement have also had a significant impact on the ability to deliver health and WASH services in general. Vibrio Cholerae is endemic to Myanmar, with outbreaks recorded since 2005. Acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) cases have also been reported in Rakhine, through Early Warning Systems (EWARS), since 2022. Yangon had the highest number of reported AWD cases with 4,743 as of week 45, followed by Rakhine with 2,753. Other states with significant numbers reported in 2024 include Mon, Mandalay and Ayeyarwady. In areas severely affected by armed conflict or flooding, including Kayin, Kayah, Shan, Rakhine, Sagaing and Kachin, the demand for education supplies remains high. Across the country, safe learning spaces are urgently needed for children, with immediate access to education services, which includes teaching and learning materials, and trained educators.

In Rakhine State, armed conflict between the Arakan Army (AA) and the MAF has persisted, particularly in Maungdaw, Ann, Toungup and Gwa townships, with frequent airstrikes reported in other areas claimed by the AA. An estimated 362,000 people have been displaced in Rakhine and neighbouring Paletwa Township in southern Chin, bringing the total number of internally displaced people in Rakhine to nearly 570,000. In Ann Township, an estimated 1,000 people from rural areas have been displaced since 21 October and nearly 260 houses were also burned. In Toungup Township, fighting has escalated since the end of October, displacing an estimated 20,000 people from urban areas. In Maungdaw Township, aerial bombardments displaced thousands of people, reportedly killed four displaced people, injured two civilians, and destroyed or burned thousands of empty houses in a village during the first week of November.

Rakhine has been facing a drastic reduction in the cultivation of crops, domestic production, skyrocketing prices, widespread unemployment and heightened insecurity. With trade routes closed and severe restrictions on aid, Rakhine risks becoming a fully isolated zone of deep human suffering – it is in imminent danger of facing acute famine, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Predictions by UNDP indicate that domestic food production will cover only 20 per cent of the people’s needs by March–April 2025. 6 The lack of adequate health care services further endangers lives, particularly in northern Rakhine. According to a partner organization’s report, severe acute malnutrition (SAM) has been identified in at least 3 per cent of children under the age of five, among recently displaced people in a major township in Rakhine. This figure is significantly higher than the usual rates and is likely to be even higher in other populations and townships. While authorities have permitted the transport of supplies from Yangon to Sittwe for selected humanitarian agencies, continued advocacy is urgently needed to expand access to more conflict-affected townships across Rakhine.

Northwestern Myanmar has seen a continued escalation in conflict and affected more than 1.6 million people displaced in that region; nearly half of the countrywide caseload. There have been widespread reports of dozens of civilian casualties and hundreds of houses burned down in Budalin and several townships in Sagaing during military operations since around mid-October. Shortages of food, shelter, WASH and educational support for displaced communities have been reported. This includes approximately 1,500 displaced people, including 800 children, who are at risk of food insecurity in Kale Township in Sagaing. 7 There has been fighting in Chin state since the beginning of November 2024. In Falam township, approximately 90 per cent of residents have left their homes and an estimated 5,000 people are displaced in Kalay town and seeking refuge in border areas.

In Shan state, armed clashes between the MAF and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) have intensified and the security situation remains volatile, with several airstrikes in Nawnghkio, Lashio, Kyaukme, Kutkai, Namkhan townships in northern Shan, and Pinlaung and Pekon townships in southern Shan. These indiscriminate airstrikes have resulted in civilian casualties, including the deaths of children, and left many others injured. Border trade posts between China and Myanmar remain blocked, causing a spike in the prices of essential commodities, including fuel. Due to the conflict and airstrikes, many internally displaced people who had previously returned to northern Shan are being forced to move once more, often heading to southern Shan. The MAF has restricted access routes from southern Shan, such as those from Lawksawk, Lecha and Mongshu. Humanitarian entry to Pinlaung, Pekon and parts of Nyaungshwe is also severely limited. The World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) are negotiating with Shan state authorities to get access to internally displaced population sites, particularly in Pinlaung, Kyae Thee, Hsiseng townships in southern Shan. Access to Kayah remains completely restricted, and artillery shelling has struck two villages in Loikaw township, and Thayetpin and Nokoe villages in Moebyae township, killing and injuring numerous civilians, including children.

According to the recent monitoring of incidents caused by landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW), 889 casualties were reported in the first nine months of 2024. This, so far, represents 85 per cent of the total recorded in 2023 (1,052). Shan state accounted for 25 per cent of these casualties, followed by Sagaing region (17 per cent) and Rakhine state (12 per cent). Alarmingly, children made up 28 per cent of the total casualties, underscoring the disproportionate impact of the conflict on the country’s most vulnerable populations. 8 The 2024 Landmine Monitor further confirms Myanmar as the country with the highest global landmine casualties in 2023, surpassing Syria (933), Afghanistan (651), and Ukraine (580).9 This highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions to mitigate risks and protect civilians.