New York, Jan 2 (Agency) The people of Myanmar are facing an unprecedented political, human rights and humanitarian crisis, with needs escalating dramatically since the military takeover and a severe Covid-19 third wave in 2021, according to a UN Humanitarian Needs Overview published by United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The report published on Friday said “The military takeover and the large-scale civil disobedience movement that followed have heavily impacted the already fragile public service sector, further restricting the access of people to basic services. It also suggests that the economic and political turmoil of 2021 has combined to drive almost half the population into poverty, wiping out gains made since 2005.
Moreover, increased prices for key household commodities made food unaffordable for many. “Price hikes, Covid-19 movement restrictions and ongoing insecurity have forced the most vulnerable people to resort to crisis.” Touching upon sexual and gender-based violence in the country, the report said “Women, children and people with disability are particularly vulnerable amid this crisis, exposing them to risks of exploitation and abuse”. School closure for more than a year due to widespread Covid-19 has disrupted the learning of almost 12 million children in the country. According to the report, the outlook for 2022 “remains dire” and the political and security situation is expected to remain volatile, with increased displacement anticipated. The general trend of price hikes of basic food items and agricultural inputs is expected to continue thus reducing food affordability, it said.