The United Nations Development Program has issued a stark warning about the escalating crisis in Myanmar's Rakhine state, home to the Rohingya minority. The UNDP report highlights a 'perfect storm' of factors that could lead to an unprecedented disaster in western Rakhine.
The report points to a series of interconnected issues including restrictions on goods, hyperinflation, reduced food production, and a lack of essential services. These factors have left the population highly vulnerable and on the brink of collapse.
Myanmar has a long history of conflict with the Rohingya minority, denying them citizenship and subjecting them to violence. The military's brutal campaign in 2017 forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh.
Since the military seized power in 2021, pro-democracy forces and ethnic armed groups have been fighting to oust the military regime. The Arakan Army, seeking autonomy for Rakhine, has gained control of over half of the region's townships.
The UNDP report paints a grim picture of Rakhine's economy, with critical sectors at a standstill due to blockades and trade restrictions. The lack of access to markets has led to collapsing incomes and disappearing jobs, pushing the region towards acute famine.
The report warns that without immediate action, over 2 million people in Rakhine are at risk of starvation. Urgent measures are needed to allow the flow of goods and aid, ensure access for humanitarian workers, and provide financial resources for the agricultural sector to recover.
UNDP emphasizes the need for swift intervention to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Rakhine. The region faces the prospect of becoming an isolated zone of deep human suffering if action is not taken promptly.
