The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has issued a stark warning that more than 12 million people in Myanmar will face acute hunger in 2026, marking one of the worst food crises since the country’s political and economic collapse following the 2021 military takeover.
According to the WFP, the deteriorating humanitarian situation is being driven by intensifying nationwide conflict, mass displacement, and a rapidly worsening economic environment that has pushed millions into severe food insecurity.
Worsening Hunger Forecast: One Million at Emergency Levels
Of the 12 million people projected to face acute hunger next year, the WFP estimates that one million could reach “emergency levels”—the threshold at which people require immediate, life-saving assistance to survive.
The crisis is already visible on the ground:
- More than 400,000 mothers and children suffering from acute malnutrition are now surviving on little more than plain rice or thin porridge.
- Nationwide, 3.6 million people remain displaced, many living without access to stable food supplies, health care, or income sources.
Despite the soaring needs, humanitarian operations remain drastically underfunded.
In 2025, aid agencies received only 26% of the required humanitarian funding, forcing the WFP to scale back assistance for more than one million people.
Deadly Hospital Airstrike in Rakhine State Intensifies Fears
The humanitarian crisis deepened further following a devastating junta airstrike on December 10 that struck a public hospital in Mrauk-U township, Rakhine State.
The attack resulted in:
- At least 30–35 fatalities, including patients, medical staff, and young children
- Another 70–76 people injured, many with life-threatening wounds
- The destruction of the hospital’s main inpatient ward and operating theaters
Local reports indicate that a military jet dropped two 500-lb (226-kg) bombs on the facility, rendering it completely inoperable.
International observers note that the airstrike aligns with a sharp escalation in military activity.
Between January and November 2025, the junta conducted 2,165 airstrikes, an unprecedented figure reflecting its attempt to regain territory from the Arakan Army (AA) ahead of national elections scheduled for December 28.
Displacement, Economic Collapse, and Failing Public Services Drive the Crisis
The UN estimates that in 2026:
- 16 million people, including five million children, will require humanitarian aid and protection
- Myanmar’s GDP is expected to contract by 2.0% in the fiscal year ending March 2026
- Agricultural productivity has fallen 16% since 2021, driven by conflict, fuel shortages, rising fertilizer costs, and farmland contaminated by landmines
- Hospitals and clinics in conflict-affected regions are closing or operating with minimal capacity
More than half the country now lacks reliable electricity, severely limiting access to clean water, healthcare, communications, and essential services.
Growing Concern from International Agencies
Humanitarian organizations, including the WFP, have emphasized that without a significant increase in funding and secure access to affected areas, millions of people especially children, elderly individuals, and those in remote conflict zones could face catastrophic levels of hunger in the coming year.
The WFP urged the international community to “act decisively” to prevent further deterioration, warning that the combination of armed conflict, economic collapse, and systemic infrastructure failures poses an existential risk for millions across Myanmar.
0 Comments