The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has reported a “dramatic rise in hunger” in Myanmar’s conflict-hit Rakhine State, driven by ongoing civil war and sharp reductions in foreign aid, including cuts from the United States.

According to a statement issued Tuesday, the proportion of families in central Rakhine unable to meet basic food needs surged to 57% in July, up from 33% in December 2024. Conditions in northern Rakhine are believed to be even worse due to heavy fighting and restricted humanitarian access.

The WFP warned that families are resorting to extreme measures to survive, including taking on rising debt, begging, pulling children out of school, and, in some cases, falling victim to human trafficking. It attributed the crisis to prolonged conflict, severe movement restrictions, soaring food prices, and a steep decline in humanitarian funding.

Rakhine has seen intense clashes between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) since late 2023. The AA claims control over 14 of Rakhine’s 17 township centers, while the military has tightened blockades around the three coastal townships still under its control, disrupting vital trade routes.

The humanitarian situation has worsened following the U.S. government’s decision earlier this year to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). In March, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that 83% of USAID programs were being cut permanently, with the remaining funds placed under State Department management. The U.S., WFP’s largest donor in 2024, provided nearly half of its $9.7 billion budget.

The aid withdrawal has forced healthcare and support organizations in Rakhine to halt operations, affecting not only local communities but also refugee camps in Bangladesh hosting around one million Rohingya who fled the 2017 military crackdown. Refugees International has warned that the funding cuts are undermining prospects for durable solutions for the Rohingya.

A similar aid crisis has hit Myanmar refugees along the Thai border, where hospitals serving over 100,000 people have closed after the International Rescue Committee shut down operations in January due to lost U.S. funding.

BOB Post