Sat Dec 27 09:20:31 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten version as a news article for The Hindu, tailored to its typical style:
Summary:
Myanmar is holding general elections on December 28, 2025, amidst a devastating civil war and humanitarian crisis following the 2021 military coup. The conflict, coupled with natural disasters like a major earthquake, has left millions in need of aid. The UN reports severe underfunding of aid operations and the US aid cuts are compounding the problem. Widespread displacement, food insecurity, and malnutrition are rampant, with alarming numbers of children affected. While the economy is showing signs of potential recovery, driven by reconstruction and assistance, challenges remain including high inflation and widespread hunger. Solar energy is gaining traction due to electricity shortages, and Russia is strengthening ties with the junta through energy investments.
News Article:
Myanmar Elections Loom Amidst Crisis as Millions Face Hunger, Displacement
Yangon, Myanmar, December 27, 2025: As Myanmar prepares for general elections on Sunday, December 28, 2025, the nation grapples with a severe humanitarian crisis fueled by a brutal civil war and compounded by natural disasters. The conflict, triggered by the 2021 military coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government, has ravaged the country, leaving millions displaced and facing acute food insecurity.
The United Nations reports that a staggering 20 million of Myanmar’s 51 million citizens require aid, with a plunging currency and soaring inflation pushing approximately half the population below the poverty line. Over 3.6 million people have been displaced from their homes, and UN estimates place the number of civilian deaths at over 6,800 since the coup.
The World Food Programme (WFP) warns that over 12 million people in Myanmar will face acute hunger in the coming year, including a million in need of life-saving support. With over 16 million experiencing acute food insecurity, Myanmar is now considered “a hunger hotspot of very high concern,” ranking among the top five globally in terms of aid needs.
The crisis is particularly impacting children, with the WFP projecting that more than 540,000 children will suffer from acute malnutrition this year – a 26% increase from the previous year. One in three children under five are already suffering from stunted growth.
Despite the grim circumstances, there are glimmers of hope. The World Bank projects a 3% GDP growth in the next fiscal year, driven by post-earthquake reconstruction efforts and targeted assistance. However, inflation is expected to remain high at over 20%.
Chronic electricity shortages have prompted a surge in the adoption of solar energy solutions. Meanwhile, Russia is strengthening its ties with the junta, signing an investment agreement in June that could open new opportunities for Russian energy companies in the country.
The international community has raised concerns about restrictions on humanitarian access and press freedom, with reports indicating that the junta has suppressed information regarding the food crisis. The UN reports that Myanmar remains one of the most under-funded aid operations globally, with only 12% of required funds received. The U.N. special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar said that U.S. cuts to humanitarian aid are having a crushing impact on people.
As Myanmar heads to the polls, the elections are overshadowed by the urgent need to address the escalating humanitarian crisis and to find a path towards peace and stability.
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