Gwyn Lewis, the UN’s interim Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar, highlighted the continued deterioration in the country despite global attention shifting elsewhere, in an interview with UN News at the UN Headquarters in New York.
“The crisis in Myanmar is almost invisible,” she remarked. “There’s really a sense in the country that it’s been forgotten.”
As the UN and humanitarian partners caution that Myanmar’s needs will rise in 2026, resources remain limited, leading to tough decisions about aid distribution.
Since the military takeover in 2021, Myanmar has faced worsening armed conflict, natural disasters, and economic collapse, displacing around 3.6 million people, with projections of almost four million next year.
The UN’s 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan estimates that more than 16 million, including five million children, will need life-saving assistance in 2026.
Ms. Lewis noted many families have been displaced by conflict, a powerful earthquake, and severe monsoon flooding, resulting in overcrowded shelters with scarce access to essentials.
“The scale, the severity and the complexity of the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar is very, very high,” she emphasized.
Food insecurity is urgent, with over 12 million facing acute hunger in 2026, and a million requiring immediate help. More than 400,000 children and mothers already suffer from acute malnutrition.
“Conflict and deprivation are converging to strip away people’s basic means of survival, yet the world isn’t paying attention,” stated Michael Dunford, WFP Country Director.
Funding shortfalls exacerbate the crisis, with only a quarter of necessary funds received in 2025, prompting a reduction in targeted aid recipients in 2026.
“We weren’t able to deliver food to everybody we wanted to,” Ms. Lewis said, leaving families with impossible choices.
Access is also hindered by the conflict involving the military and various ethnic armed groups, delaying or blocking aid deliveries to remote areas. Upcoming elections may further restrict access.
Despite these challenges, humanitarian efforts managed to reach five million people in early 2025, though assistance was often limited.
Ms. Lewis urged for more support to prevent further suffering and highlighted the need for global focus on Myanmar.
“Behind every number is a person trying to survive a crisis they did not choose,” she said. “We simply cannot allow this to happen again next year.”
Urging donors and governments to refocus on Myanmar, she stressed the importance of acknowledging the plight of the people.
“The suffering is very deep…and the people of Myanmar deserve to be heard and seen.”
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