The Myanmar Junta Stole Their Education

Antonio Graceffo

In a makeshift school in Karen State, with no government support, no electricity, no internet, and photocopied textbooks, 23-year-old Koe Koe, a dedicated educator working to bring education to children trapped in Burma’s war, said, “We try to teach them how to find opportunity in a country where it is almost non-existent.”

The humanitarian crisis facing Burma’s children is steadily worsening, with 3.5 million people displaced and nearly 20 million, including 6.3 million children, in urgent need of aid. Over 55 percent of children live in poverty, and 85 percent of displaced households report unmet basic needs. Food insecurity is severe, with more than 40 percent of young children unable to access nutritious meals. Grave violations against children, including injuries from explosive devices, have surged, children accounted for 32 percent of all casualties in 2024. There is also a critical need for safe water, sanitation, hygiene services, and protection from abuse, especially in internally displaced people’s camps.