FACTS & FIGURES More than 3 million people are in need of assistance (OCHA Humanitarian Response Plan 2021) More than 551,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) More than 470,000 non-displaced stateless Rohingya

EU humanitarian funding: More than €289.5 million since 1994

© Kaung Hter / IRC

Last updated 27/09/2021 European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Myanmar/Burma

Introduction Insurgencies have been ongoing in Myanmar since its independence in 1948, with several ethnic armed groups fighting Myanmar's armed forces for self-determination. Regular violations of international humanitarian and laws have led to widespread humanitarian needs.

The February 2021 military coup has resulted in the rapid deterioration of the security situation in Kachin, Shan, Chin and other southeastern states, with conflict expanding to other areas that were spared in the past. Myanmar, one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, is also exposed to multiple hazards, including floods, cyclones and earthquakes.

What are the needs? The estimates that more than 3 million people will require humanitarian assistance by the end of 2021, including those in protracted displacement in the conflict-torn states of Rakhine, Kachin and Shan.

Following the coup, intensified armed clashes have internally displaced an estimated 250,000 new people. This adds to some 336,000 people driven from their homes in pre-existing conflicts. Meanwhile, humanitarian access is significantly reduced due to security and COVID-19-related restrictions.

More than 1,000 people have been killed and over 6,000 people detained following the coup. Basic social services are disrupted. Myanmar is also experiencing shortages essential goods such as medical supplies and equipment. COVID-19 has pushed the already fragile healthcare system to the brink of collapse.

Since 2017, violence in northern forced more than 740,000 ethnic to flee into . Approximately 600,000 stateless Rohingya people remain in Rakhine, of whom 130,000 have been confined to camps since 2012. They are deprived of basic rights, including and access to livelihoods.

Restricted access, coupled with strict COVID-19 preventative measures in large parts of Rakhine state continue to pose significant challenges and have severely hampered the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid in the area.

Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid How are we helping? In 2021, the European Union allocated €22.5 million in humanitarian aid funding to address the immediate needs of the most vulnerable, including displaced and conflict-affected communities.

The funding focuses on providing health assistance, education, food and protection services, ensuring access to clean water and sanitation, as well as providing assistance for those fleeing conflict to and .

Part of the funding is also being used to help the country in its battle against the deteriorating COVID-19 pandemic. It covers the provision of medical supplies and equipment, as well as supporting emergency referrals of displaced people, pandemic-affected communities and frontline humanitarian workers.

EU humanitarian funding is provided in line with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, and is channelled directly through aid groups. The EU does not provide any humanitarian aid funding to the military authorities.

In Rakhine and southern Chin, the EU and its partners continue to support the most vulnerable with the management and coordination of camps, protection, food, nutrition, health, disaster preparedness, as well as water and sanitation.

The EU also provides humanitarian aid to those affected or displaced by armed conflict in Kachin and Shan states with protection, education and landmine awareness-raising. Following the upsurge in conflict and the resulting large-scale population displacements in southeastern Myanmar, the EU responds to the most acute needs, despite hampered access to certain areas.

The EU has also responded to many natural hazards in Myanmar over the past two decades. Most recently, the EU channelled €85,000 to support those affected by a deadly landslide in a jade mining community in northern Kachin. The funding covered search and rescue efforts and the provision of first aid and psychological support to those affected. Cash grants were given to vulnerable families that lost their main breadwinners.

Another priority is disaster preparedness, focused on increasing the resilience of communities which face recurrent natural hazards. Since 2010, the EU has allocated €16.65 million to coastal flood-prone areas and earthquake-prone urban areas.

The EU has provided humanitarian aid in Myanmar since 1994. It has funded emergency relief programmes to assist victims of both conflict and natural disasters, with total funding of over €289.5 million. Since 2013, a total of €8.65 million have also been provided for emergency education to conflict-affected children, including €2 million in 2021.

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