Myanmar

Since the military take-over of 2021, the humanitarian situation in Myanmar has continued to worsen with each passing year marked by intensifying conflict, recurrent disasters, and steady economic collapse. Conflict and disasters have already displaced an estimated 3.6 million people.

In the first half of 2025, Myanmar ranked second globally for conflict intensity and fourth most dangerous country for civilians, with more than half of the population exposed to conflict. The security situation for civilians is deteriorating, protection risks are severe, and the resilience of communities is stretched to breaking point.

In March 2025, a devastating earthquake struck central Myanmar. The disaster affected key agricultural regions, destroying crops, irrigation systems, and grain stores—threatening food security for 2 million newly affected people. The earthquake damaged or destroyed tens of thousands of houses, dozens of roads and bridges, and nearly 70 health facilities, severely disrupting access to essential services.

An estimated 3.6 million people have been displaced by conflict and earthquake, with 1.7 million in the hardest-hit regions in the Northwest, Rakhine, and Southeast, the highest figure on record. Most conflict-displaced people have fled their homes multiple times and often end up in informal shelters with limited access to food, healthcare, and clean water.

Over 2026, the humanitarian community will focus efforts on reaching 4.9 million of the most vulnerable people – a steep contraction from the 6.7 million people it aimed to assist in 2025. 

Two-thirds of the country is affected by two primary shocks—conflict and earthquake. Significant underfunding, inflation, access restrictions, and service disruptions have left many essential needs unmet. The drop in the people in need compared to 2025 (a 27 per cent decrease from 6.7 million 2025) is a reflection of hard decisions and revised analyses, rather than an improvement on the ground.

Severe underfunding in 2025 — only 26 per cent of the humanitarian appeal requirements received — significantly limited partners’ ability to deliver planned lifesaving and protection assistance, leaving millions without support. 

Despite access challenges, shrinking funding, and rising insecurity, partners reached 5 million people in the first nine months of 2025.

The UN and partners have appealed for US$890 million to reach 4.9 million of the most vulnerable people. The 2026 response plan focuses exclusively on areas affected by two major shocks (conflict and earthquake) covering two-thirds of Myanmar’s townships, rather than the nationwide scope used in 2025.