Myanmar Humanitarian Access Snapshot - August 2025

The humanitarian community in Myanmar reported 76 access-related incidents across 15 states and regions in August, impeding the delivery of essential life-saving support scheduled for approximately 115,000 people. In March 2025, 74 incidents were recorded, which reflects the lowest number of reports to date this year. The lower number of incidents reported may be attributed to a reduced humanitarian footprint, primarily due to funding constraints. Incidents in Rakhine, for the second consecutive month, accounted for the highest number of reports (13 per cent), followed by in Mandalay (12 per cent) and in Northern Shan (11 per cent).
With 57 per cent of the total reported incidents, access constraints related to armed hostilities largely affected relief operations in twelve states and regions, including Northern Shan, Kayah, Chin, Mandalay, Kayin, and Eastern Bago. Various humanitarian activities planned for implementation by aid organizations, including members of the UN system, were temporarily suspended for over ten days—particularly in Mandalay, Southern Shan, Tanintharyi, Rakhine, and Kachin. In Southern Shan, due to heavy artillery fire at the project site, an international organization was forced to cancel its activities. Meanwhile, in Hpasawng Township of Kayah, reported airstrikes damaged a school, resulting in three children being injured.
Administrative and bureaucratic constraints accounted for 25 per cent of all reported incidents, with Rakhine, Mandalay, and Kachin collectively recording 68 per cent of the total cases. In Rakhine, a joint travel authorization was granted to the UN and humanitarian partner organizations, to access displacement sites and IDP camps located in Sittwe Township till 18 August. Meanwhile, airport authorities introduced new verbal instructions requiring humanitarian organizations to submit details of local staff movements in advance for flights departing/arriving from Sittwe. In Magway, a locally imposed lockdown in Ngape Township forced relief organizations to postpone their activities for a day. Similarly, in Mandalay, the local administration paused all humanitarian movements for up to five days toward Nyaung U Township, citing security concerns, which significantly delayed planned deliveries. International organizations were also forced to suspend their movements to Hakha Township in Chin State for more than ten days following the blockage of all key routes. In addition, international organizations experienced denial of passage through Momauk checkpoints, where they were asked to provide additional validation from local authorities for each mission. In Southern Shan, a local organization was instructed by a township authority to conclude their distribution early, although no reason was given.
Seven incidents involving violence or threats against humanitarian personnel were reported throughout August in five states and regions, including in Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw. Eight staff members were detained in two separate incidents reported in Yangon and Rakhine. Three of them were freed the following day, while no updates are available regarding the others. In Kachin, a truckload of humanitarian aid was confiscated by a non-state armed group at a checkpoint in Waingmaw Township but was released the next day.