WFP says Middle East crisis impacting Myanmar communities still recovering for last year’s devastating earthquake

Mizzima

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) released a statement on 27 March calling attention to the impact the Middle East crisis is having on communities still struggling to rebuild one year after devastating earthquake in central Myanmar. The WFP said the crisis is having an impact on fuel, food, and fertilizer prices which are creating potential for hunger among vulnerable families.

The WFP statement continues below.

WFP’s latest monitoring shows a fragile recovery from the earthquake. In the affected regions of

Sagaing and Mandalay, one in six households continue to face moderate to severe food insecurity.

Half of all families remain only marginally food secure – surviving day to day and unable to absorb

even the smallest shock. That additional shock is now taking hold.

“People who survived the earthquake have barely begun to stand again, and now another blow is

knocking them back down,” said Michael Dunford, WFP Country Director and Representative in

Myanmar. “This new wave of global instability is hitting Myanmar at the worst possible moment.”

The conflict in the Middle East is disrupting transportation and driving fuel shortages across

Myanmar. Rising fuel prices are pushing up the cost of moving food and agricultural goods, placing

additional strain on households already struggling to afford basic staples.

The crisis is also striking Myanmar’s farmers as they prepare for monsoon crops. With fertilizer

demand expected to rise over the next three months, fuel shortages and rising input costs are

threatening to push production expenses to double last year’s levels.

These compounding shocks are expected to hit hardest in conflict- and earthquake-affected areas,

such as Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Rakhine, Sagaing and Shan, worsening the food insecurity in a country

where 12.4 million people – nearly one quarter of the population – are already facing acute hunger.

Over the past year, WFP reached half a million earthquake survivors with relief and recovery

support. WFP has now transitioned from emergency relief to restoring community infrastructure

that provides long-term stability.

WFP needs USD150 million in funding for 2026 to assist 1.5 million people across the country with

life-saving assistance and resilience support. Without sufficient funding, WFP will be forced to

prioritize the most urgent life-saving needs, potentially scaling back recovery efforts that help

earthquake survivors rebuild livelihoods and reduce long-term dependence on aid.

“The people of Myanmar have endured shock after shock – conflict, climate disasters, the

devastating earthquake, and now a global fuel crisis,” Mr. Dunford warned. “We must stand with

them now. One year after the earthquake, they cannot afford another fall.”