Myanmars’s War-Torn Rakhine State at Risk of Imminent Famine: UN Report
Rakhine State in Myanmar is facing a dire humanitarian crisis, with a recent United Nations report warning that up to two million people may be at risk of starvation. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Rakhine’s economy has collapsed due to escalating violence and ongoing restrictions imposed by Myanmar’s military regime, drastically reducing food production and trade in the region. If urgent action isn’t taken, the UNDP projects famine-like conditions by mid-2025, with 95% of Rakhine’s population on the brink of extreme survival measures.
The UNDP report highlights several contributing factors to the crisis, including shortages of seeds, fertilizers, and adverse weather, which have severely impacted rice production. Additionally, displacement due to conflict has further hindered farming efforts, with a 60% increase in internally displaced persons since October 2023, leaving more than 500,000 people completely dependent on aid. The Rohingya, a stateless Muslim minority long persecuted in Myanmar, are particularly vulnerable, with many living in restrictive camps under Myanmar’s military junta. Al Jazeera’s Tony Cheng reports that the region is currently producing only 20% of its food needs, intensifying the plight of Rohingya families and other vulnerable populations who lack access to basic necessities.
The ongoing conflict in Myanmar has roots in the 2021 military coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government, sparking nationwide protests and armed resistance. In Rakhine, violence has escalated following the collapse of a ceasefire between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) in November 2022, leading to substantial territorial gains by the AA and more displacement. Despite the worsening conditions, aid organizations, including the Red Cross, face significant barriers in reaching those in need due to government-imposed access restrictions.
The UNDP has emphasized that immediate intervention is essential to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe, calling on the international community to address this critical crisis as Myanmar’s political turmoil and violence push millions further into vulnerability.
If you value our journalism…
TMJ News is committed to remaining an independent, reader-funded news platform. A small donation from our valuable readers like you keeps us running so that we can keep our reporting open to all! We’ve launched a fundraising campaign to raise the $10,000 we need to meet our publishing costs this year, and it’d mean the world to us if you’d make a monthly or one-time donation to help. If you value what we publish and agree that our world needs alternative voices like ours in the media, please give what you can today.
Author
Related
Islamabad Under Lockdown as Imran Khan Supporters Rally for his Release
Pakistan’s capital Islamabad is under lockdown as tens of thousands of supporters of jailed former…
Putin Warns NATO for Hypersonic Missile Conflict Escalation
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a televised address from the Kremlin on Thursday, outlined Moscow’s…
Soaring Violence in Haiti Leaves Over 150 Dead and 20,000 Displaced: UN
At least 150 people have been killed, 92 injured, and 20,000 displaced in Port-au-Prince over…
