More than 5 million children in Myanmar could require life-saving humanitarian aid to survive next year, according to an analysis of UN figures released today, equivalent to one in every three children, with access for aid agencies urgently needed, Save the Children said.

New data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) projected that more than 14 million people in a population of 54 million in Myanmar could be in need in 2022, up from 1 million this year but with the latest assessment taking in areas previously not included.

Myanmar was among the top 10 countries listed as having the greatest need of humanitarian aid globally, just behind four countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is projected to have the most people in need next year at 27m.