Myanmar’s Refugee Crisis Deepens as US Funding Cuts Hit UN Food Aid
Imagine living in a camp with no end in sight, relying on aid to survive. This is the harsh reality for thousands of people in Myanmar’s refugee camps. The United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) has been a lifeline, but its aid is dwindling due to US funding cuts.
A woman named Byar Me, living in a camp near the city of Myitkyina, received her last aid package worth around $50. “I wish this wasn’t true,” she said, fighting back tears. Byar Me’s family of five relies on this aid to get by. She pleaded for help, saying, “Please, don’t abandon us.”
Crisis Worsens
The situation in Myanmar has deteriorated since the military coup in 2021. Thousands have lost their lives, millions have been displaced, and poverty rates have soared to 50%. The WFP is struggling to provide aid, and the consequences are dire. Only 35,000 people will receive aid in April, a fraction of the 15 million who struggle to find food daily.
For 32-year-old Si Ya Tar, life in the camp is a constant struggle. His family of seven has no income, and the WFP is their only hope. “We’re in a desperate situation,” he said. “If we don’t get aid, we’ll starve.”
US Funding Cuts
The US, once a significant donor, has cut its funding to the WFP. Michael Dunford, WFP’s Myanmar director, told AFP that the organization has been forced to reduce aid due to lack of funding. Since President Donald Trump’s return to office, he has pushed for reduced government spending, with billionaire Elon Musk supporting this approach.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID), a major WFP donor, has seen its budget slashed by $42.8 billion. Trump claims this is unnecessary government spending, but according to the Pew Research Center, USAID’s budget accounts for only 0.7-1.4% of total US government spending.
“A Death Sentence”
Tom Andrews, the UN’s special rapporteur on Myanmar, warned that the sudden and unmanaged withdrawal of US support will have severe consequences. “This is a death sentence for many people in Myanmar,” he said. “The abrupt end to aid will kill them.”
In the Waingmaw Lisu Baptist Association camp, 379 households, or over 1,800 people, rely on WFP aid. Community manager Le Tar said, “Everyone in the camp is depressed and sleepless, feeling hopeless. If we don’t get aid, we’ll starve.”
The situation in Myanmar is dire, and the international community must act to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. As Byar Me said, “Please, don’t forget us.”
