UNHCR pledges relief to Myanmar amid surge in refugees
The organization has said the number of refugees in Myanmar officially surpassed 800,000.
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Rohingya refugees crossing the Myanmar-Bangladesh border (Reuters)
The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, announced Friday that the number of internally displaced people (IDP) in Myanmar is growing, with more humanitarian supplies required to secure their survival.
According to the UNHCR, the overall number of IDP's has more than quadrupled since February 2021, when the military coup occurred and now exceeds 800,000 individuals.
In a statement, the UNHCR said, "Some 440,000 people have been newly displaced since February 2021, according to UNHCR data, adding to an existing 370,000 who fled their homes previously," adding that the organization intends on expanding its activities and resources to help as many displaced individuals as possible.
The statement added that "some 600,000 stateless Rohingya in Rakhine State, including some 148,000 displaced in camps, villages, and displacement sites, also remain highly vulnerable and require humanitarian support."
The country's southeast areas are seeing the highest displacement as a result of confrontations between various armed factions.
Last February, Myanmar's military seized control and installed a new administration. The actions were followed by four months of turmoil and over 1,300 casualties.
According to the UNHCR, Myanmar's humanitarian situation has continued with inflation, lost careers, a breakdown of essential services, and persisting insecurity.
As a result, the majority of IDPs in Myanmar rely on humanitarian assistance to survive.
