The ongoing conflict and climate disasters in Myanmar have displaced over 3.4 million people, with children making up nearly 40% of those affected, according to a statement from UNICEF.

The country has been in turmoil since the military deposed Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government in 2021.That triggering a violent crackdown and sparking an armed resistance against the junta. The conflict, along with devastating climate events like Typhoon Yagi, has caused widespread displacement and suffering. In September, Typhoon Yagi struck, causing severe flooding that killed over 400 people and forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.

"The humanitarian crisis in Myanmar is reaching a critical inflection point," said UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban. “The escalating violence and climate-induced disasters are putting children and families at unprecedented risk.”

Chaiban highlighted the devastating impact on children, who face displacement, violence, and lack of access to health care and education. He noted the deaths of seven children and two civilians on November 15 during a military strike on a church compound in Kachin State, where children were playing football.

The northern region, home to the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), has been a hotspot for fighting between the junta and ethnic minority armed groups. Such violence has claimed the lives of at least 650 children this year and left many more wounded.

Landmines and explosive remnants of war have also posed a significant threat, accounting for one-third of the over 1,000 civilian casualties. "The increasing use of deadly weapons in civilian areas targeting homes, hospitals, and schools has deprived children of their right to safety and security," Chaiban said.

Last week, a military airstrike on a teashop in Naungcho, Shan State, killed 11 people, further underscoring the escalating violence. As Myanmar grapples with the twin crises of conflict and climate change, the situation for children and their families grows increasingly dire, with urgent calls for humanitarian intervention & sustainable crisis solution.
 

BOB Post