The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) reported that the number of displaced people by armed conflicts in Rakhine State and Paletwa Township of Chin State has reached more than 140,000.

The statement is included in the weekly summary report on the humanitarian situation in Asia and the Pacific region published by the UNOCHA.

UNOCHA's statement reported that due to the ongoing armed conflict, including airstrikes and heavy weapons fire, in many townships in Rakhine State, the affected residents are experiencing increased anxiety and stress.

On February 29, 21 civilians died and over 30 people were injured as a result of a heavy shell landing in the central market of Sittway, Rakhine State.

Although there had been informal ceasefire between Tatmadaw and Arakan Army (AA), the AA launched offensive attacks on Rakhine State on November 13 of 2023. So, the ceasefire was cancelled  and there were about 148,500 displaced people by the conflicts in Rakhine state and Paletwa township of Chin state after the cancellation of the ceasefire, says UNOCA. 

More than 2.7 million people have been displaced due to conflict and insecurity in Myanmar, and that by 2024, more than 18.6 million people in Myanmar will need humanitarian assistance, announced the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in the humanitarian bulletin released on March 3.

By 2024, 18.6 million people across Myanmar will need humanitarian assistance, rising inflation affecting the ability to meet basic needs, conflict and insecurity and civilians are still struggling to survive amid threats to security and access to protection, it said.

The ongoing battles and the administrative restrictions imposed by all parties are still the main obstacles to access the affected people and provide social relief assistance. In 2023, aid was provided to at least 3.2 million people, but this support could not be fully implemented as originally planned due to insufficient funding and access restrictions, UNOCHA said.

According to the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP), humanitarian workers intend to provide social relief assistance to 5.3 million people, and US$994 million are needed for these emergency operations, and if the amount of funds obtained in 2023 (only 37 percent of the required funds were obtained) will be the same in 2024, it will face great difficulties for the affected people, it said.