Nearly 900,000 internally displaced people after the outbreak of civil war

Since February 2020 the number of displaced people increased by about 520,000. Humanitarian groups highlight food shortages, warn that the country is on the brink of a humanitarian disaster. The military have killed more than 1,700 civilians so far, with nearly 10,000 arrested. The US has imposed new sanctions on Myanmar generals.

Yangon (AsiaNews) – The number of internally displaced people in Myanmar has almost reached 900,000; this is one of the most tragic effects of the civil war that broke out after the military carried out a coup in February 2020 that overthrew the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

According to the United Nations, clashes between the military and coup opponents displaced about 520,000 people on top of those already displaced, mainly by decades of conflict between Myanmar’s Armed Forces and ethnic militias.

Humanitarian groups are urging foreign governments to take a more resolute stance regarding the crimes committed by Myanmar’s generals against the civilian population, Radio Free Asia reported.

They point out that food shortages are pushing the country to the brink of disaster. For civilians, the emergency is getting increasingly severe in the northwestern regions of Magway and Sagaing, and in the southeastern states of Kayah and Kayin. These are the areas with the toughest armed resistance to the junta.

Since the military takeover, the security forces have killed more than 1,700 civilians, arresting nearly 10,000, this according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a humanitarian group.

Yesterday the United States announced more sanctions against Myanmar’s generals, which come on top of punitive measures already imposed by Washington and its allies.

• myanmar
• military
• coup
• civil war
• ethnic militias
• internally displaced people
• sanctions
• united states