Thu Nov 21 23:26:38 UTC 2024: ## UNICEF: Myanmar Crisis Leaves Nearly 40% of Displaced Population as Children
**Washington, D.C. – November 22, 2024** – The ongoing conflict and climate-related disasters in Myanmar have created a devastating humanitarian crisis, disproportionately impacting children, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). At least 650 children have been killed or wounded in the violence this year, and children comprise nearly 40% of the over 3.4 million people displaced across the country.
The displacement is attributed to the ongoing civil war, sparked by the military coup in 2021, and exacerbated by extreme weather events such as Typhoon Yagi in September. The typhoon resulted in major floods that killed over 400 people and displaced hundreds of thousands more.
UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban described the situation as reaching a “critical inflexion point,” highlighting the escalating conflict and climate shocks putting children and families at unprecedented risk. He cited a recent airstrike on a Kachin church compound, where children were playing football, resulting in the deaths of seven children and two adults. Landmines and explosive remnants of war have also claimed the lives of over one thousand civilians, with children accounting for roughly one third of the casualties.
The indiscriminate use of weapons in civilian areas, including airstrikes and landmines targeting homes, hospitals, and schools, has severely limited safe spaces for children, depriving them of their basic rights to safety and security. The targeting of civilians was highlighted by a recent military airstrike on a teashop in Naungcho, northern Shan state, which killed eleven people.
UNICEF’s statement underscores the urgent need for humanitarian assistance to address the crisis and protect the rights and well-being of children in Myanmar.
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