Children in Myanmar are facing an escalating humanitarian crisis as food insecurity, conflict, and the collapse of essential services threaten their survival, UNICEF Myanmar has warned.
According to the organization, 55 percent of children in the country are living in poverty, and millions are at risk of malnutrition, disease, and exploitation.
“Myanmar has been grappling with a range of escalating conflicts for four years now, with the situation taking its toll on children the most, with violence, displacement, and disruption of essential services such as health and education posing a serious threat to the survival and well-being of children,” UNICEF Myanmar said.
Children are disproportionately affected by the ongoing instability, with one-third of those displaced being minors.
These children, forced from their homes and communities, now face an uncertain future. In 2024 alone, 750 children were killed or injured in the conflict, with the number continuing to rise, the agency reported.
The country’s public healthcare system, already weakened by the COVID-19 pandemic, is now further crippled by conflict, insecurity, and the exodus of healthcare professionals.
As a result, more than a million children are missing out on vital vaccinations, making Myanmar one of the countries with the highest number of unvaccinated children globally, UNICEF Myanmar noted.
In addition to the health crisis, the education system is in turmoil. Nearly five million children are missing out on education, putting them at heightened risk of forced recruitment by armed groups, child labor, early marriage, and exploitation, the agency said.
Meanwhile, food insecurity is worsening, particularly among displaced families and children with disabilities.
The collapse of social safety nets has left many families unable to afford even the most basic needs, including specialized care for children with disabilities.
Natural disasters have compounded the crisis. In 2024, Cyclone Ragi affected more than 300,000 children, destroying schools and worsening conditions in overcrowded refugee camps.
Vulnerable communities are now battling waterborne diseases and deteriorating living conditions, with severe impacts expected to persist into 2025.
Despite the urgent needs, UNICEF Myanmar reported that funding remains critically low. Only 25 percent of the $208 million required for 2024 has been received, leaving many children without access to life-saving aid.
The organization has appealed for $286 million by 2025 to provide emergency services for 4.1 million of the most vulnerable children and families in Myanmar.
Without immediate funding and intervention, UNICEF warns that children will continue to suffer from malnutrition, disease outbreaks, lack of clean water, and the loss of education opportunities, deepening an already dire humanitarian crisis.
