Myanmar, Union of — humanitarian situation

Myanmar's humanitarian crisis persists amid ongoing armed conflict, with violence against health workers reaching alarming levels. Since the February 2021 military coup through May 2026, at least 1,939 incidents of violence against or obstruction of health care have been documented, equivalent to one attack every day for more than five years (Insecurity Insight). The Myanmar Armed Forces are attributed responsibility for 65 percent of these attacks, which have resulted in 175 health workers killed, 931 arrested, and health facilities damaged on at least 506 occasions. Access constraints continue to impede humanitarian operations across the country, as reflected in operational snapshots from May 2026 (OCHA). The United Nations Secretary-General's annual report on children and armed conflict documented a record 24,174 children suffering grave violations across 23 conflicts globally in 2025, with government forces identified as main perpetrators for the first time in the report's history (UN). For refugees who fled Myanmar, conditions vary by location. Approximately 1.1 million Rohingya refugees and host community members in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh continued receiving health services through WHO coordination in May 2026, with priority areas including measles response, emergency preparedness, and immunization. Over 1.17 million refugees in Bangladesh received food assistance from WFP under vulnerability-based targeting approaches (WFP). Along the Thai-Myanmar border, the Royal Thai Government began issuing official identity cards in June 2026 to refugees living in temporary shelters, formally recognizing them as "Myanmar Displaced Persons" in a landmark step toward inclusion and self-reliance for one of the world's most protracted refugee populations (UNHCR). Regional climate conditions present additional risks. An El Niño event is forecast from mid-2026, with most models indicating at least moderate strength and a strong event increasingly possible (IASC, IFRC, OCHA). This comes amid record global temperatures and poses particular threats to the Asia-Pacific region, which remains highly exposed to climate variability with significant implications for agricultural production and food security (FAO, OCHA, WFP). Myanmar was not included among the 13 highest-concern hunger hotspots in the FAO-WFP June to November 2026 outlook, though the regional climate forecast warrants continued monitoring.