Introduction
The already dire humanitarian situation in Myanmar has dramatically worsened since the military takeover in 2021. The coup d’état against the democratically elected government plunged the country into political, social, and economic turmoil.
Fighting between opposition forces and the military has reached unprecedented levels across the country.
Amidst aerial attacks, ground attacks, and widespread violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, the civilian population of Myanmar lives in fear for their lives and their coping capacities are stretched to the limit.
Mass displacement continues at an alarming rate, with some 3.55 million people displaced as of May 2025, about 90% of whom have been displaced since February 2021.
Recurrent natural hazards, often large-scale, also increase the vulnerability of people living in disaster-prone areas. The 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on 28 March 2025 caused massive destruction, leaving about 9,000 people killed or injured.
What are the needs?
According to the United Nations, 19.9 million people, over a third of the population, need humanitarian assistance in Myanmar. This is up from just 1 million people before the military takeover in 2021. An additional 2 million people need assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake.
This includes over 6 million children who have limited or no access to healthcare and education, suffer from food insecurity and malnutrition, and face protection risks including forced recruitment, landmines, and mental distress.
Severe disruptions cripple basic social services, and the country suffers from shortages of medical supplies and equipment, with the healthcare system in collapse. At least a quarter of the population faces hunger.
In 2017, Myanmar security forces launched armed attacks and targeted violence on a massive scale against the Rohingya population of Rakhine State, forcing more than 745,000 people to flee across the border into neighbouring Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, some 600,000 Rohingya remain in Rakhine, 144,000 of them confined to camps since 2012. They are deprived of basic rights, including citizenship, freedom of movement and access to resources and essential services.
The 28 March earthquake took place in densely populated areas, impacting major cities and areas already hit by the conflict. The earthquake struck just before the start of the monsoon season, making people who have been left homeless even more vulnerable. The rains also make the humanitarian response more difficult.
How are we helping?
The EU has been providing humanitarian aid in Myanmar since 1994, with total funding reaching €456 million.
In 2025, the EU has so far allocated €46 million in humanitarian aid funding to address the immediate needs of the most vulnerable people in Myanmar. This includes people who have been affected by conflict, as well as those who have been impacted by the earthquake.
The funding helps to provide food, nutrition, clean water and sanitation, shelter and emergency preparedness/response, healthcare, education in emergencies, as well as protection services, including mine risk education and victim assistance.
Humanitarian organisations in Myanmar continue to face major access constraints, bureaucratic impediments, and a repressive environment for aid workers, which hampers and slows down the effective delivery of humanitarian aid to people in need.
The EU does not channel any humanitarian funding via the military authorities. EU humanitarian aid is provided directly through thoroughly vetted humanitarian organisations across the country, wherever needs are greatest, in line with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. In Myanmar, EU partners work with hundreds of local organisations to ensure aid is delivered even in hard-to-reach areas.
Myanmar is also one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, exposed to multiple hazards, including floods, cyclones and earthquakes. The EU has responded to several emergencies in Myanmar before the recent earthquake, including Cyclone Mocha in 2023 and Typhoon Yagi in 2024. Funding for Myanmar also covers disaster preparedness activities, which aim to increase the local populations’ capacity to withstand emergencies.
After the deadly 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar and neighbouring countries on 28 March, the EU immediately released €2.5 million in initial emergency assistance, while also providing €500,000 to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) emergency appeal. The EU also activated its Copernicus satellite service to assess the extent of the damage and generate publicly available maps to help the response.
On 7 April, the European Commission allocated an additional €10 million in humanitarian aid to provide emergency shelter, medical care, clean water, and sanitation to people affected by the earthquake. This funding also supports urgent protection assistance, including family tracing and reunification.
Since 2 April, a total of 11 Humanitarian Air Bridge cargo flights have successfully transported 681 tonnes of stock to Yangon, carrying mainly health, shelter, water and sanitation supplies for several humanitarian organisations. These include 78 tonnes of ReliefEU stocks donated to UNICEF and 104 tonnes of ReliefEU stocks donated to the Italian NGO CESVI. Flights have been organised for several partners, including UNICEF, CESVI, IFRC, ICRC, German Red Cross, Tzu Chi and IOM. Additional flights are being organised following continued requests from partners.
Following the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism by the UN, a team was deployed to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, including 12 European experts from Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Luxembourg and Norway and 2 Liaison Officers from the EU’s department for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid. Furthermore, 6 EU Member States offered in-kind assistance, notably shelter and medical items, that are being delivered to Myanmar.
Last updated: 21/05/2025
Facts & figures
19.9 million people require humanitarian assistance (Humanitarian Response Plan 2025) and 2 million people require assistance after the 28 March earthquake.
Some 3.55 million people are internally displaced.
EU humanitarian funding:
over €46 million in 2025
over €456 million since 1994