UNDP Warns of Imminent Famine in Rakhine

Myanmar's Rakhine State is on the brink of famine, with over two million people at risk of starvation, according to a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report. The ongoing conflict between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army has severely disrupted agricultural production and trade, leading to hyperinflation and a near-total halt in the state's economy. Rice production has collapsed, plummeting from 282,000 tons last year to an expected 97,000 tons this year due to shortages of seeds, fertilizers, and the displacement of farmers. The UNDP warns that without urgent humanitarian aid, famine conditions could prevail by mid-2025. The humanitarian crisis is compounded by the displacement of over 500,000 people, many of whom are entirely reliant on aid. As conflict escalates, new waves of Rohingya refugees are fleeing to Bangladesh, heightening the regional crisis.