Myanmar Civil War: A Humanitarian Catastrophe in the Making

ABSTRACT

Myanmar is in the grip of a brutal civil conflict. A civil war is raging in Myanmar one that the ruling military doesn’t want the world to see. The fighting, which is now entering its third year, is estimated to have left nearly 18 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. [i]

A severe deterioration in Myanmar's humanitarian and human rights situation is primarily due to the military's deliberate efforts to hinder the delivery of crucial humanitarian aid to those in desperate need. Since February 1, 2021, the military has consistently prioritized its own interests over the urgent needs of communities affected by conflict.

The deliberate obstruction or denial of humanitarian assistance constitutes serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. The military's actions, including its "four-cuts" strategy aimed at cutting off support for its opponents, have resulted in the death and injury of thousands of civilians and the destruction of essential goods and infrastructure, including food, shelter, and medical facilities.

Across Myanmar, the military is carrying out airstrikes. On the ground, they’re struggling to crush the resistance. So, they’ve taken this fight against their own people to the air.

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Historical Context

Myanmar is an ethnically diverse area in Southeast Asia. Its history is long and complex. The country gained its independence from the British in 1948. In 1962 the country was taken over by a military junta. They ruled for decades until 2011 when the country started its journey towards democracy. This transition though came with a caveat where 25% of seats in the parliament remained reserved for the military.

In 2015 the face of the pro-democracy movement Aung San Suu Kyi assumed power. Unfortunately, her tenure was short-lived. In 2021 the military reasserted its dominance, claiming that the 2020 election was fraudulent and corrupt. Since then, the military also known as the Tatmadaw has ruled with an iron fist. With reports of mass killings, thousands of arrests and human rights abuses across the country.

After seizing power in a coup, they’re trying to crush an uprising demanding democracy. The war has led to a harsh suppression of opposition, continuous assaults on civilians, and a significant outflow of people in neighbouring nations.

The Unfolding Crisis

Myanmar's human rights and humanitarian crisis is extensive, with an estimated 1.5 million people internally displaced and over 60,000 civilian structures destroyed. The 2023 Humanitarian Need Overview (HNO) report indicates that approximately 17.6 million people, or one-third of the population, require some form of humanitarian aid. [ii]

In the 2021/2022 Human Development Report, Myanmar is categorized as a lower middle-income economy, possessing a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.585. It holds the 149th position among 191 nations, classifying it as a 'medium development' country. [iii]

A report published by the United Nations earlier this year has accused Myanmar’s military of creating a perpetual human rights crisis in the country. The UN has called for an immediate end to the violence. As per UN, two years from the February 2021 coup that toppled Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government, the situation in Myanmar is a festering catastrophe.

Air strikes are now a daily occurrence for the people of Myanmar. A Myanmar military aircraft orbits a primary school, prompting children to seek refuge in a crater. They’re told to keep down and pray together. More than 20 attacks have been reported since January. Monasteries, hospitals, churches and schools have been hit. The deadliest attack in April killed more than 170 and people.

Source: The New York Times

Myanmar’s military regime has plunged the country into chaos and violence. UN said the military rulers now see civilians as their adversaries and are making war on the country’s own people, undermining the basic ability to live. A resistance movement is fighting the military on multiple fronts after a bloody crackdown and western countries continue to impose sanctions. The UN report flagged the military’s indiscriminate airstrikes and artillery shelling, mass burning of villages, and denial of humanitarian access. The tactic used by the military, the report said, is designed to cut off non-state armed groups from access to food, finances, intelligence and recruits.

The country is grappling with escalating violence, leading to a growing sense of insecurity and fear among its citizens. Protection concerns are on the rise, including the risk of death or injury from intense combat, landmines, and explosive remnants of war (ERW). Other threats such as arrests, detentions, forced recruitment, and human trafficking are also prevalent, especially in remote conflict zones.

Since the military takeover in February 2021, the number of internally displaced people (IDPs) in Myanmar has reached over 1.5 million, with 1.2 million individuals being displaced due to conflict and insecurity. [iv]

The availability of nutritious food has dwindled and become more costly due to inflation. Parents are concerned about the education and future opportunities of their children, as years of missed schooling have taken a toll.

Furthermore, disruptions in health services have led to the lack of essential medicines and life-saving treatments for the sick. The injured keep coming to the secret hospital hidden in the jungle, the volunteers surround the latest victims and hurry them to the meager emergency ward. The injuries are simply horrendous. Doctors, nurses, and surgeons perform miracles to keep people alive every day.

The scars of battle have lit the roads throughout the country. Once-thriving towns and villages now stand deserted, their inhabitants having relocated elsewhere. This has turned into a major humanitarian disaster. People are already living in abject poverty but now with the fighting continuing there’s virtually no proper healthcare left, the war has left hundreds of thousands homeless.

The military junta denies the existence of a war, the media remains silent on the matter, and the international community turns a blind eye. Myanmar witnesses the screams of agony as the wounds are dressed, the agony of limbs lost in a war that’s tearing Myanmar apart. This is the brutal reality of life in the country, indiscriminate shelling and missile attacks on civilians and resistance fighters alike. This is the stark current state of Myanmar, a reality that the country's military rulers are keen to conceal, but it undeniably persists.

War is always bad but this is surely intolerably wrong. The conflict in Myanmar is a struggle for survival, and although the chances of success are slim, the people continue to defy those odds relentlessly. The conflict is not confined to a single battleground; it involves harsh combat in both the dense jungles and the urban streets of towns.

It’s not enough to feel compassion. The global community must step in to address the worsening humanitarian crisis and offer assistance to those who are in dire need. The cries of the suffering individuals cannot be disregarded any longer; their situation demands prompt action.

References [i] Humanitarian crisis worsens as fighting in Myanmar’s civil war ramps up | PBS News Weekend (Last visited Aug. 28, 2023) [ii] https://www.bing.com/search?q=Myanmar+civil+war+humanitarian+crisis+2023&qs=n&form=QBRE&sp=-1&ghc=1&lq=0&pq=myanmar+civil+war+humanitarian+crisis+2023&sc=0- 42&sk=&cvid=5485BACEC47D4BB395E7E9B792BE080E&ghsh=0&ghacc=0&ghpl= (Last visited Aug. 28, 2023) [iii] UN Women Myanmar Country Profile_PARTNERS (A4 size) (Last visited Aug. 28, 2023) [iv] Myanmar Humanitarian Update No. 26 | 2 February 2023 - Myanmar | ReliefWeb (Last Visited Aug. 28, 2023)

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*This article was authored by Anushka Singh, Student from Symbiosis Law School, Noida and reviewed by Sudeep Ranjan, Student from Symbiosis Law School, Noida.