The European Union (EU) announced on Friday €63 million (US$75 million) in humanitarian aid to help millions affected by the ongoing conflict in Myanmar, as well as nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees living in neighboring countries, primarily Bangladesh. The European Commission’s allocation comes as the crisis sparked by the military coup in Myanmar enters its sixth year.
“As we mark half a decade since the dramatic escalation of conflict in Myanmar, the EU remains committed to helping the most vulnerable communities in the country, as well as those that have been forced to flee abroad," said Hadja Lahbib, the European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness, and Crisis Management.
Of the total amount, approximately €38.6 million will be dedicated to addressing humanitarian needs in Myanmar. These funds will support essential services, including food assistance, emergency nutrition, shelter, water and sanitation, healthcare, mine risk education, and education in emergencies.
Another €23.4 million is earmarked to support Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh. These funds will cover vital aid such as food assistance, nutrition support, camp shelter maintenance, essential services, and access to water and sanitation. Additionally, €1 million will be allocated to provide life-saving aid to refugees and host communities in other affected countries, including India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
"With this new funding, humanitarian partners will continue providing life-saving aid, from food and shelter to emergency healthcare and education for children," Lahbib said.
The EU channels its humanitarian assistance through partner organizations, including international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and United Nations agencies.
Lahbib once again urged all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law and ensure that civilians are shielded from harm and have access to essential services.
In Myanmar, humanitarian needs have risen dramatically since the military takeover five years ago—a situation worsened by the devastating earthquake that hit the country in 2025.
Following global funding cuts and a subsequent prioritization exercise conducted by the UN, the number of people prioritized for assistance due to the crisis in Myanmar has narrowed to just over 16 million.
Fighting affects most of the country, and the conflict is rated as one of the three deadliest in the world. Some 5.2 million people from Myanmar are displaced, either internally or across borders. Over 3.7 million are internally displaced, and about 1.5 million have sought refuge in neighboring countries.
A safe return to Myanmar remains impossible for the nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh, as the conflict within the country continues unabated. More than eight years have passed since their massive exodus from Myanmar, and more people continue to flee the ongoing conflict to Bangladesh, where 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.
UN Secretary-General: Cycle of impunity persists
On the fifth anniversary of the military coup that ousted Myanmar’s democratically elected government, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that a “cycle of impunity” persists, calling for renewed international pressure to halt the country’s deepening humanitarian and human rights crisis.
In a statement released Friday through his spokesperson, Guterres said the situation in Myanmar has worsened, citing rising mass displacement, acute food insecurity, economic volatility, and escalating violence. He specifically cited ongoing airstrikes by the military that have repeatedly struck civilian populations and infrastructure.
“Five years since the military seized power and arbitrarily detained members of the democratically-elected Government, the suffering of the people of Myanmar has deepened,” said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
“The cycle of impunity persists, with widespread violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.”
Guterres strongly condemned all forms of violence and urged all parties to the conflict to exercise maximum restraint and uphold international human rights and humanitarian law. He also called for enabling "safe, sustained, and unimpeded access for the United Nations and its partners to deliver humanitarian assistance and essential services to all those in need."
The Secretary-General also reiterated the need to ensure the protection of all communities, including the Rohingya.
“Regional and international unity and sustained engagement are needed to support a Myanmar-led solution to the crisis that fully addresses the root causes of conflict, ensures accountability and responds to immediate humanitarian and development needs,” Haq said.
Julie Bishop, the UN Special Envoy on Myanmar, is actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to facilitate dialogue between all parties involved in the conflict, according to the statement. She is working to find common ground that can lay the foundation for a lasting resolution and sustainable peace in Myanmar.
More than 16.2 million people in Myanmar need humanitarian assistance
According to the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP), over 16.2 million people in Myanmar, including approximately 5 million children, require life-saving assistance and protection this year. Often overlooked by the global media, Myanmar remains one of the world's most dire and underfunded humanitarian crises.
Due to severe underfunding in 2025, aid agencies plan to focus their efforts on assisting the most vulnerable. They aim to reach only 4.9 million people in 2026, 2.6 million of whom are a high priority. Due to global funding constraints, the HNRP has been scaled back drastically from the 6.7 million people targeted in 2025, which in reality, does not reflect any improvement on the ground.
Humanitarian organizations warn that millions could be left without necessary support if urgent funding is not mobilized. The humanitarian situation in Myanmar has deteriorated since the military takeover in February 2021. Intensifying conflict, recurrent disasters, and economic collapse have led to increased humanitarian needs.
Armed conflicts, including airstrikes, artillery fire, and ambushes, have resulted in the large-scale displacement of civilians. Challenges to humanitarian access, underfunding, and service disruptions have left many essential needs unmet.
UN human rights chief: Military-controlled ballot exacerbates violence
As Myanmar marks the fifth anniversary of the country's coup, the grim milestone coincides with the conclusion of the military's three-phase elections, which UN officials say have further polarized society and intensified violence rather than providing a credible political pathway.
On Friday, UN human rights chief Volker Türk expressed his disapproval of the military-imposed elections, stating that they failed to respect the fundamental human rights of the country’s citizens and only served to exacerbate violence and societal polarization.
“After the military grabbed power from the democratically elected government, Myanmar lost half a decade of peace and development,” Türk said.
“The profound and widespread despair inflicted on the people of Myanmar has only deepened with the recent election staged by the military.”
The voting period between December 2025 and January 2026 was reportedly marked by intense violence.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said credible sources verified that 170 civilians were killed in 408 reported military aerial attacks during the voting period alone.
According to the OHCHR, elections were held in only 263 of 330 townships, often exclusively in urban centers under military control and limited in conflict areas. Consequently, significant portions of the population, particularly the displaced and ethnic minorities such as the Rohingya, were excluded.