The European Commission has allocated €63 million in humanitarian aid to help populations affected by the ongoing armed conflict in Myanmar, as well as to support Rohingya refugees living in neighbouring countries, in particular in Bangladesh. This funding, announced as the conflict triggered by the military coup in Myanmar reaches its fifth year, is part of the initial 2026 allocation of the EU for South and Southeast Asia.
In the case of Myanmar, over €38.6 million will be used for:
- food assistance and emergency nutrition, given the high levels of food insecurity;
- shelter for people that have been forcibly displaced;
- access to clean water and sanitation;
- healthcare for populations affected by the conflict and in hard-to-reach areas;
- mine risk education and assistance for victims of landmines; and
- education in emergencies.
The €23.4 million earmarked for Bangladesh will support the almost 1.2 million Rohingya refugees living in the country, mostly in the city of Coxs Bazar, as well as the host communities. Funding will be used for life-saving assistance, including:
- food assistance and nutrition;
- maintenance of camp shelters and other facilities;
- provision of essential services such as healthcare, emergency education, and access to water and sanitation.
Given the regional dimension of Myanmars crisis, an additional allocation of €1 million will provide life-saving aid to refugees and host communities in India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
All EU humanitarian funding is channelled via partner organisations such as international NGOs and UN agencies.
Background
In Myanmar, humanitarian needs have risen dramatically since the military takeover five years ago, with the situation worsened by the strong earthquake that hit the country in 2025. Following global funding cuts and a subsequent prioritisation exercise conducted by the UN, the number of people prioritised for assistance due to the Myanmar crisis has been narrowed to just over 16 million, with over 3.6 million forcibly displaced. Fighting affects most of the country, with the conflict rated as the second deadliest in the world.
As the conflict in Myanmar continues unabated, a safe return to the country remains impossible for the almost 1.2 million Rohingya refugees that live in Bangladesh. More than 8 years since their massive exodus from Myanmar, and with more people fleeing the ongoing conflict to Bangladesh, living conditions in the camps remain dire. Scarce livelihood opportunities and increased insecurity are pushing more and more refugees to risk dangerous journeys to reach Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and India.
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