It is now over a year since the Myanmar illegally grabbed power in a coup and an uptick in clashes in various parts of the country have led to shriller calls for humanitarian aid – both for those displaced and those who have fled abroad.

Only last week, local media reported on the civilian displacement prompted by the Myanmar military clashes and bombing in various parts of the Golden Land.

In one Times of India report, over 2,000 refugees from Myanmar's Chin State arrived at the Mizoram-Myanmar border trade centre village of Zokhawthar over a few days following armed confrontation between the militant group, Chin National Army (CNA), and a number of local Chin resistance groups combined with the Myanmar army.

Village leaders in Zokhawthar said while the majority of the refugees stayed with their relatives and friends, over 500 of them were being lodged in three godowns of the border trade centre.

The local Young Mizo Association (YMA) volunteers provided food and other assistance to the refugees who have been lodged in the warehouses.

They said the whole population of Khawmawi, around 1,200, abandoned the village and fled to Zokhawthar and nearby villages while a large number of inhabitants of Haimual and Rihkhawdar also crossed the border river Tiau to take shelter in Zokhawthar.

On the other side of the country, refugees fled from Myanmar military aerial bombing and ground attacks on villages in Karen State. Hundreds crossed the Moei River to take refuge in Thailand.

WARNING SIGNALS

The UNHCR and the World Food Programme are just two of the international bodies warning of the impending catastrophe in Myanmar as a result of increasing repression and military action by the Myanmar military and its allies, local militia groups. Mizzima2017

According to the UNHCR, the number of internally displaced persons or IDPs in the country has doubled since the February 2021 coup.

UNHCR spokesperson Matthew Saltmarsh told journalists at a recent press conference in Geneva that the agency was stepping up aid for the displaced as conflict intensifies.

“Security is deteriorating rapidly across the country as fighting and armed conflict intensifies with no sign of abating”, Mr. Saltmarsh said.

In total, some 440,000 people have been newly displaced since February 2021 adding to an existing 370,000 who had fled their homes previously, according to UNHCR figures.

The agency believes the trend will accelerate, with more displacements in the coming weeks and months.

As Mr Saltmarsh explained, the UNHCR and partners are scaling up operations and deploying additional resources to support as many of the displaced as possible, complementing local community responses.

In the southeast of Myanmar, Kayin, Kayah, Mon and Shan (South) states as well as Bago (East) and Tanintharyi regions collectively account for more than half of the 440,000 newly displaced civilians. Kayin and Kayah states remain the most affected as hostilities between various armed groups have triggered large-scale displacements.

Major military actions have been happening over the last few months in Kayin and Kayah states.

Another conflict-affected area with pressing humanitarian needs is Myanmar’s North-West, where about 190,000 people remain displaced in Chin State, Magway Region and Sagaing Region. Many villages have been attacked, and significant numbers of houses burnt, prompting an exodus.

RESTRICTIONS

As the UNHCR notes, humanitarian access in many parts of Myanmar remains restricted due to insecurity, roadblocks and challenges in obtaining access approvals. As a result, host communities and local responders continue to play a leading role in assisting displaced populations, demonstrating solidarity with each other by donating what they can.

UNHCR has been working with UN agencies, local partners and communities to assist those affected wherever possible, including displaced and stateless populations and host communities. In 2021, UNHCR’s emergency relief assistance reached some 170,000 individuals in nine states and regions in Myanmar.

Local People’s Defence Forces and the National Unity Government (NUG) have attempted to help on a local level.

UNHCR continues to stay and deliver in Myanmar, according to Mr Saltmarch, despite the organizational challenges. The agency remains committed to providing critical humanitarian assistance to those in need and calls for full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access across Myanmar, so that no disruption to lifesaving work occurs for local, national, and international aid agencies.

In 2022, UNHCR will respond to the ongoing crisis by expanding its protection and operational presence where new displacements have occurred. A total of US$56.7 million is needed to ensure adequate humanitarian assistance and support vulnerable communities.

Mr Saltmarsh notes that UNHCR’s priority will be on maintaining basic safeguards, advocacy for improved access to fundamental rights, mitigating the risk of negative coping strategies, preventing forced returns and building resilience for over 1.2 million IDPs and stateless people in Myanmar.

REFUGEE IMPASSE

In addition to the problems of IDPs in-country, there is a growing refugee problem as can be seen in Thailand, India and Bangladesh.

Prior to the 2021 coup, the Myanmar refugee situation had stabilized to some extent, with long-term camps in Thailand – a legacy of the decades-long Myanmar military campaigns in the ethnic areas – and the long-term Rohingya camps in Bangladesh.

However, the recent influxes of refugees into Thailand and India have put pressure on the host countries in terms of security and support.

WFP SUPPORT

The World Food Program notes in a December 2021 report that during 2021 it has supported 2.4 million people in Myanmar, more than double those reached in 2020. These include 1.6 million people in Yangon and Mandalay, as well as 42,200 newly displaced people in six states and regions.

WFP says it continues to seek humanitarian access to tens of thousands of displaced and vulnerable populations in active conflict zones who are in urgent need of emergency food and nutrition assistance.

The WFP in many ways speaks for the larger international community seeking to help those in need in Myanmar when it says that humanitarian access to newly displaced populations, mainly in active conflict zones, remains largely restricted, limiting WFP’s ability to reach populations in urgent need of food assistance.

THE BIG FIVE

With much of the world focusing on the conflict in Ukraine and the estimated 2.5 million refugees fleeing over the last two weeks, it is easy to forget the countries that face a long-term challenge with displacement.

Myanmar is one of five countries – including Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan and South Sudan – that are responsible for more than two-thirds of the world’s refugees.1