UNICEF Myanmar announced an urgent need for US$208 million by 2024 to support children affected by the conflict in Myanmar on December 15.
After almost three years since 2021 in Myanmar, there is an unprecedented rise in conflicts that have resulted in civilians forced to flee from their homes, the economic downturn, the health system facing difficulties, and the loss of many livelihoods. Natural disasters, including cyclones and monsoon floods that occurred in 2023, have devastated many communities in southern and western Myanmar, worsening the existing situation, according to UNICEF Myanmar's statement.
By 2024, nearly a third of the country's population, 18.6 million people, will need humanitarian assistance. More than 2 million people, including 1.7 million people, are fleeing from their homes in the area. Six million children in Myanmar are in need of humanitarian assistance and face the greatest burden of the ongoing conflict. Children in Myanmar are missing out on important vaccinations and are at high risk of contracting vaccine-preventable diseases due to increased displacement and disruption of services, UNICEF Myanmar said.
In addition, Myanmar is also one of the countries facing the highest death rate of children under the age of five in Southeast Asia. Myanmar is among the countries with the highest number of children worldwide who have not been vaccinated since birth, which poses a significant threat to the future well-being of children and further weakens an already weak health system. More than four million children are missing out on education and are now being targeted in the fighting. They face higher risks of serious violations and abuses, including forced recruitment into the fighting, arbitrary detention and early marriage, UNICEF Myanmar reported.
Similarly, in 2024, UNICEF has been promoting cooperation with community-based partners to provide life-sustaining services to more than six million children in need of humanitarian assistance, including vulnerable children and families in Myanmar. On December 12, UNICEF launched the 2024 Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC), including 2.1 million children in Myanmar. Efforts are being made to provide life-saving assistance and critical services to the 3.1 million most vulnerable population. From this program, which requires US$208.3 million, UNICEF provides educational services to more than 890,000 children, mental health and emotional support for a total of 392,000 children, teenagers and their caregivers, clean water, personal and environmental hygiene support for 850,000 people, and basic health care support for a total of 350,000 children and women.
UNICEF will work to provide important measles vaccinations to about 800,000 children to keep them alive and strong. UNICEF is strengthening partnerships with local and community-based actors to provide critical support and services to the most vulnerable children and families, including in hard-to-reach areas, to ensure that no one is left behind. It is also working to strengthen accountability to those affected by taking community-led approaches to regular contact with beneficiaries, establishing feedback systems, joint planning and programming. UNICEF and its humanitarian partners are providing assistance in an environment of political and border crisis, the statement said.
Also, the availability of flexible, predictable and adequate funding for HAC is a source of hope for the millions of children in Myanmar, including those with disabilities or those separated from their families, who face an uncertain future, UNICEF said.
