The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Edited News | UNHCR
Bi-Weekly Press Briefing Aid for Displaced in Myanmar UNHCR 11 February 2022
The number of internally displaced people due to the conflict in Myanmar has doubled since last year’s military coup and currently amounts to more than 800,000 people, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) informed today while scaling up its emergency response to assist.
“Security is deteriorating rapidly across the country as fighting and armed conflict intensifies with no sign of abating”, said UNHCR’s spokesperson Matthew Saltmarsh speaking today at a news briefing at the United Nations in Geneva. “UNHCR forecasts an accelerating trend of displacements in the coming weeks and months”, he added.
As conflict and insecurity is raging in many parts of the country, UNHCR and partners are stepping up operations and deploying additional resources to support as conflict intensifies.
According to Mr. Saltmarsh, “some 440,000 people have been newly displaced since February 2021, according to our data, adding to an existing 370,000 who had fled their homes previously”.
In the South-East of the country, Kayin, Kayah, Mon and Shan (South) states as well as Bago (East) and Tanintharyi regions collectively account for more than half of the 440,000 newly displaced civilians. Hostilities between various armed groups have triggered large-scale displacements. Kayin and Kayah states remain the most affected ones.
“Another conflict-affected area with pressing humanitarian needs is Myanmar’s North-West, where about 190,000 people remain displaced in Chin State, Magway Region and Sagaing Region”, said UNHCR’s Matthew Saltmarsh.
The displaced people are living in appalling conditions, many in camps and displacement sites, others with host communities, and some have crossed the borders with Thailand and India or have sought refuge in the jungle without adequate food, shelter, sanitation, protection or medical care.
UNHCR and partners distributed relief items including tarpaulins, ropes, blankets, kitchen sets, mosquito nets, buckets, sleeping mats, sanitary kits, COVID-19 personal protective equipment, solar lamps, and winterization kits for adults and children.
“Humanitarian access in many parts of Myanmar remains restricted due to insecurity, roadblocks and challenges in obtaining access approvals”, said Mr. Saltmarsh. ”As a result, host communities and local responders continue to play a leading role in assisting displaced populations”.
The humanitarian situation in Myanmar remains precarious with increased vulnerabilities linked to rising commodity prices, job and income losses, disruptions to basic services and prolonged insecurity. The majority of IDPs are consequently dependent on humanitarian support for survival.
“Some 600,000 stateless Rohingya in Rakhine State, including some 148,000 displaced in camps, villages and displacement sites, also remain highly vulnerable and require humanitarian support”. noted Mr. Saltmarsh.
In 2022, UNHCR requires a total of US$56.7 million to ensure adequate humanitarian assistance and support vulnerable communities.
-ends-
- Exterior wide shot, United Nations Palace of Nations, Geneva. UN flag flying.
- Wide shot, press room UN Geneva.
- SOUNDBITE (English): Matthew Saltmarsh, Spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR): “Security is deteriorating rapidly across the country as fighting and armed conflict intensifies with no sign of abating. UNHCR forecasts an accelerating trend in displacements in the coming weeks and months.”
- Wide shot, press room UN Geneva with podium speakers on the rear.
- SOUNDBITE (English): Matthew Saltmarsh, Spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR): “Some 440,000 people have been newly displaced since February 2021, according to our data, adding to an existing 370,000 who had fled their homes previously.”
- Medium shot, masked participant listening with podium speaker on the TV screen on the rear.
- SOUNDBITE (English): Matthew Saltmarsh, Spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR): “Humanitarian access in many parts of Myanmar remains restricted due to insecurity, roadblocks, and challenges in attaining access approvals. As a result, host communities and local responders continue to play a leading role in assisting displaced populations, demonstrating solidarity with each other by donating what they can.”
- Medium-wide shot, participating listening and taking notes.
- SOUNDBITE (English): Matthew Saltmarsh, Spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR): “Some 600,000 stateless Rohingya in Rakhine State, including some 148,000 displaced in camps, villages and displacement sites, also remain highly vulnerable and require humanitarian support.”
- Medium shot, TV screen showing spokesperson, podium speakers on the rear.
- SOUNDBITE (English): Matthew Saltmarsh, Spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR): “Another conflict-affected area with pressing needs is Myanmar’s North-West, where about 190,000 people remain displaced in Chin State, Magway Region and Sagaing Region.”
- Wide shot, press room in Geneva. Participants listening with podium speakers on the rear.
- Close-up shot, masked participant listening besides the tripod of camera.
- Medium shot, one participant listening and another rising hand up to ask questions.
- Wide shot, masked participants sitting and listening.
- Wide shot, masked participant taking notes besides the tripod of camera.
- Medium shot, masked participants listening carefully.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The UN Human Rights Office on Friday published a report on the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) since 2014.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF , UNHCR
The ongoing humanitarian response to the devastating Afghanistan earthquake disaster continued on Friday, although essential services have been cut for operational reasons following reinforced Taliban restrictions on women working with the UN, the global body said.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Un nouveau rapport du Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies aux droits de l'homme sur la République démocratique du Congo évoque le spectre de crimes de guerre et de crimes contre l'humanité dans le Nord et le Sud-Kivu.,
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | HRC
A high-level independent rights probe into the Sudan crisis on Tuesday condemned the many grave crimes committed against civilians by all parties to the war, citing disturbing evidence indicating that they had been “deliberately targeted, displaced and starved”.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
Ukraine: ‘Relentless’ attacks rattle health system as winter approaches: WHO
Ambulances attacked, chronically ill patients lacking care and no peace in sight: for millions of Ukrainians, the run-up to another winter of war is just the latest life-or-death challenge they face, the UN health agency (WHO) said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his report on Sri Lanka to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his global update to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
A UN report on the Democratic Republic of Congo raises specter of war crimes and crimes against humanity in North and South Kivu, according to UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.
1
1
1
Edited News | WMO
As billions of people continue to breathe polluted air that causes more than 4.5 million premature deaths every year, UN climate experts on Friday highlighted how damaging microscopic smoke particles from wildfires play their part, travelling half-way across the world.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence made the following comment on the on-going presidential election process in Cameroon at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
The UN Human Rights Office released a new report on Myanmar, describing death, destruction and desperation which reflect atrocities committed in 2017.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , IFRC , UNHCR
Afghanistan: Humanitarians scramble to reach survivors of deadly quake; response at ‘breaking point’
In remote eastern Afghanistan, aid workers are racing to assist survivors of Sunday’s devastating earthquake as the death toll continues to climb, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.