UNICEF Myanmar Humanitarian Situation Report No. 8, 2024

Highlights

• Severe flooding affected an estimated 1 million people, including more than 300,000 children, in at least 70 townships of Myanmar - increasing the need to provide health, nutrition and WASH services, child protection services and ensure the continuity of children’s education.
• UNICEF provided essential WASH supplies to 532,586 people affected by conflict, floods, and acute watery diarrhea, and 66,567 people received primary health care services in UNICEF-targeted areas.
• Despite growing humanitarian needs, significant funding gaps persist. UNICEF’s appeal is only 23 per cent funded, and the recent severe flooding has strained our ability to deliver life-saving assistance and humanitarian aid to conflict- and flood-affected populations.

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 displacement 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 October 2024, UNICEF secured $47.6 million (23 per cent of its appeal), comprising $34.4 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 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 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, the French Committee for UNICEF, as well as global humanitarian thematic funding. 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), the Mine Action Area of Responsibility (MA AoR) and 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.

Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs

The humanitarian situation remains volatile, with continued intense fighting and armed clashes escalating across the country, particularly in Rakhine, northern Shan, Kayah, Sagaing and Chin; as of end of October, more than 3.4 million people are internally displaced. 1 Between 19 September and 1 October, multiple sources indicate that various forms of shelling led to the deaths of at least 38 civilians, with 58 more injured, in townships in Chin state, Magway, Mandalay and Sagaing regions in the northwest, and in eastern Bago and Kayin state in the southeast. Numerous homes, schools, religious buildings and public assets were damaged or destroyed. Humanitarian aid continues despite operational challenges such as insecurity, access restrictions and unstable telecommunications. The recent widespread flooding has further exacerbated the scarcity of resources to deliver lifesaving assistance and has increased the need for more funding to provide immediate aid to people who have been affected by conflict and severe flooding.

In September, heavy rainfall, severe flooding, and landslides in the wake of Typhoon Yagi affected an estimated 1 million people. Many of these were already displaced by conflict and include more than 300,000 children in at least 70 townships. The weather caused significant damage to homes, household assets and critical infrastructure, including health facilities, schools, water sources, major highways, bridges, and WASH infrastructure. Livelihoods have been destroyed, forcing many families to evacuate, and communication challenges persist due to flooded roads and downed electric lines. Numerous schools were forced to close or are being used as shelters, affecting the access to education for thousands of children. Child protection is a major concern, with risks such as family separation, psychological distress, exposure to explosive ordnance and drowning. Initial assessments indicate that more than 270,000 children and more than 180,000 parents and caregivers are in urgent need of child protection services.

The flooding has also exacerbated the spread of waterborne diseases such as acute watery diarrhoea (AWD), dengue fever, malaria, cholera and measles, putting increased demands on health, nutrition and WASH services. According to the ministerial authorities for health, 3,997 cases of AWD were reported in Yangon region since 24 July. This included 576 hospitalized cases of AWD reported between 9 September to 6 October 2024, although no severe cases were reported during that period.5 Reactive vaccination campaigns using oral cholera vaccine (OCV) were carried out in Yangon region in September and three townships in Mon state in October. According to early warning and response systems supported by the Health Cluster in Myanmar, the AWD cases in Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine State, steadily decreased between weeks 36–41. However, initial reports in week 42 show a resurgence.

In northern Shan, armed clashes continued between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). More than 5,000 people in Hsipaw township fled their homes, and an estimated 46,300 people remain displaced in 12 townships across northern Shan. 6 The population movement in Lashio town is fluid due to unpredictable airstrikes. All border crossings between northern Shan and China have been closed and the economic hardship of communities in border areas is increasing as prices soar. In the border areas of Kayah and southern Shan, intense fighting between the MAF and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) is increasing, as is population displacement. United Nations humanitarian agencies received permission to respond to the flooding in some townships in southern Shan, except Pinlaung, Pekone, Hsiseng, and Hopong, where active armed conflict persists.

There has been severe monsoon flooding in the southeast, where fighting has also escalated. More than 825,000 people have been displaced in Mon, Kayin, Kayah states, Bago (East) and Thanintharyi regions. 7 Since 18 August, more than 5,000 people in Kyainseikgyi township in Kayin state have been displaced due to intense fighting. In Bago, conflict has escalated in Kyauktaga, Okpho, Letpadan, Phyu and Yedashe townships; nearly 380 houses in Okpho and Letpadan townships were destroyed, forcing the displacement of more than 3,500 people.

In Rakhine, heavy fighting between the MAF and Arakan Army is affecting 16 out of 17 townships. An estimated 380,000 people have been displaced in Rakhine and Paletwa Township in southern Chin state and, in Rakhine state overall, the total displacement is more than 570,000 people. 9 Access constraints persist, including continued closure of roads and waterways and restrictions to the movement of supplies and staff outside Sittwe. Communication and electricity blackouts, banking restrictions, reports of arbitrary arrests in Sittwe and risks to humanitarian workers also hinder the delivery of humanitarian aid. Travel authorizations for camps and areas in Sittwe township were approved for October for the specific access of inter-agencies and agencies to newly displaced sites and protracted camps.

In Kachin state, fighting between the MAF and the Kachin Independence Army intensified in Chipwi, Hpakant and Tsawlaw townships. An estimated 220,000 people have been displaced and are in critical need of WASH services, shelter and food. Roads are largely inaccessible and there have been virtually no telecom services across the state since 21 July, hampering contact with affected communities and further assessments of emerging needs. Additionally, electricity was cut off in Bhamo, Mansi, Sumprabum, Chipwe, Pan Wa and Lwegel. Due to the shut-down of border crossing areas and the closure of the main trade route from central Myanmar to Myitkyina, prices are rising for essential commodities, including fuel and food.

In the northwest, conflict between the MAF and various EAOs continues in Chin state, Magway, Mandalay and Sagaing regions and an estimated 1.7 million people are displaced, accounting for nearly half of the national total of internally displaced people. Mandalay region experienced severe flooding in July and September. In Chin state, shortages of food have been reported, particularly among conflict-affected populations, because of restrictions on the transportation of all commodities into Chin state since late August.