The ongoing humanitarian and human rights crisis in western Myanmar represents one of the most acute yet neglected challenges in the region. Despite its severity, Chin State has often been historically overlooked and underreported, even as it has borne the brunt of violence since the military coup in 2021. Over half of the state’s population has been forcibly displaced, with communities grappling with constant threats to their safety and livelihoods. The urgency for international support has never been more critical. The Chin Human Rights Organization’s (CHRO) efforts, combined with sustained and strategic global engagement, are vital not only to protect civilian lives but also to bring about accountability for war crimes and other atrocities being committed by the junta. Beyond immediate survival, there is a pressing need to foster resilience within these affected communities, so they can recover and rebuild in the face of ongoing violence. As the crisis escalates, the international community can no longer afford to remain passive—lives hang in the balance, and the world’s response will determine the future of thousands.

Overview

Since the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021, the humanitarian and human rights conditions in western Myanmar—including Chin State, Sagaing Region, and Magway Region—have deteriorated drastically. These areas, already marginalized, have become the epicenter of some of the most severe military violence and human rights abuses, with civilians being disproportionately affected.

The Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) and its partners have reached 279,246 people across 16 townships in western Myanmar in 2024 alone, providing much-needed humanitarian assistance. Despite these efforts, the situation remains critical, and the need for continued and increased support is paramount. International and regional support must be sustained and expanded to prevent further suffering.

Displacement Crisis

The military’s ongoing violence has forced more than half of the population of Chin State from their homes, creating a massive displacement crisis in the region:

  • Approximately 80,000 Chin refugees have fled to India, seeking safety from the military’s campaign of terror.
  • Within Chin State itself, approximately 180,000 people are now internally displaced (IDPs), forced to flee their homes and live in makeshift camps, forests, or remote areas under dire conditions.

This mass displacement has left communities struggling to survive with limited access to food, shelter, healthcare, and clean water. These displaced populations face a constant threat of violence and insecurity, compounded by the harsh realities of displacement, such as disease outbreaks, malnutrition, and lack of protection from the elements.

The Scale of Violence and Humanitarian Crisis

The military’s campaign has caused widespread destruction and loss of life in western Myanmar. In Chin State alone:

  • Civilian Deaths: A total of 472 civilians have been killed since the coup, including 88 women and 76 children, as a direct result of the military’s indiscriminate violence.
  • Airstrikes and Bombardments: The junta has carried out 867 airstrikes and 1,800 aerial bombardments, resulting in 116 civilian deaths (including 27 women and 31 children) and 242 injuries (including 59 women and 27 children).
  • Landmine Casualties: Landmines laid by the military have caused 37 civilian deaths and 68 injuries, including women and children.
  • Destruction of Infrastructure: The junta’s assaults have destroyed 124 religious buildings, 55 school buildings, and 24 health facilities, depriving communities of vital services. Among these, 25 religious buildings, 22 schools, 8 medical facilities, and 7 Buddhist temples were destroyed in airstrikes alone.

The destruction of religious, educational, and medical infrastructure has further exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, leaving communities without access to basic services and support.

Humanitarian Interventions in 2024

In 2024, CHRO and its partners delivered a range of humanitarian interventions aimed at addressing the immediate needs of displaced populations in western Myanmar. These interventions reached 279,246 people across 16 townships, providing essential resources such as:

  • Food aid for displaced families facing acute hunger and malnutrition.
  • Shelter to protect families from harsh weather conditions and military attacks.
  • Healthcare services to treat illness and injuries caused by the conflict.
  • Psychosocial support to help individuals cope with the trauma of displacement and violence.

Despite these efforts, the scale of the crisis far exceeds current aid levels, and without continued and increased international support, many lives remain at risk.

The Importance of Continued and Increased Support

The Chin State and surrounding regions have suffered disproportionately from the military’s violence, and discontinuing or reducing humanitarian support would have devastating consequences for the displaced populations. Continued and increased support is crucial for several reasons:

  1. Civilian Protection: The ongoing military airstrikes and ground attacks have caused immense civilian casualties, especially among women and children. Humanitarian aid is essential for protecting displaced communities, providing them with shelter, food, medical care, and other critical resources. Without sustained support, these vulnerable populations will be left defenseless.
  2. Urgent Need for Accountability and Justice: The ability to document airstrikes, human rights violations, and war crimes is critical for holding the junta accountable. CHRO’s documentation efforts provide the evidence needed to bring these atrocities to the attention of international bodies and courts. Pausing or reducing support would weaken efforts to seek justice and accountability, allowing the military to continue its campaign of violence with impunity.
  3. Resilience and Livelihood Stabilization: For the displaced communities, resilience is key to survival. Supporting these populations through humanitarian assistance helps stabilize their livelihoods, making them less dependent on short-term aid. This includes rebuilding destroyed schools, religious buildings, and health facilities, which are vital for community cohesion and long-term recovery.
  4. Humanitarian Reach: In 2024 alone, CHRO’s interventions reached nearly 280,000 people, demonstrating the scale of humanitarian need in western Myanmar. Any interruption or reduction in aid would leave vast numbers of people without access to life-saving assistance, putting lives at immediate risk.

How Communities Are Surviving

Displaced communities in Chin State and neighboring regions have shown remarkable resilience despite the extreme conditions they face. Local civil society organizations, with support from international partners, have stepped up to provide critical services and foster community resilience. This includes setting up makeshift shelters, ensuring access to clean water, and organizing informal education for children.

However, this resilience can only last so long without sustained international support. The displaced populations need more than just temporary relief; they require long-term strategies that can help them rebuild their lives and livelihoods in the face of prolonged violence.

CHRO’s Response and Role

Since the coup, CHRO has played a pivotal role in responding to the humanitarian and human rights crisis in western Myanmar. Recognizing the immense needs of the displaced populations, CHRO has expanded its operations to deliver life-saving aid and document atrocities for future accountability.

  • Human Rights Documentation: CHRO has been on the frontlines of documenting the junta’s war crimes and human rights violations, providing critical evidence for international justice mechanisms.
  • Humanitarian Relief: CHRO has mobilized both local and international resources to reach some of the hardest-hit areas, delivering essential aid to tens of thousands of people.

Through its dual approach of humanitarian intervention and human rights documentation, CHRO has been able to address both the immediate needs of the displaced populations and the long-term need for justice and accountability.

The Urgency of International Action

The international community must act urgently to prevent the rapid deterioration of the crisis in western Myanmar. Immediate, concrete steps are required in the following areas:

  1. Increased Humanitarian Funding: The unprecedented displacement—where over half the population of Chin State has been uprooted—demands a significant increase in international funding. Humanitarian efforts are severely under-resourced, leaving thousands without access to basic needs such as food, shelter, and medical care. Without immediate scaling up of aid, many more lives will be at risk.
  2. Civilian Protection and Accountability: The international community, including the United Nations and key democratic allies, must act in a coordinated manner to protect civilians from the junta’s brutal campaigns of violence. This means imposing more effective targeted sanctions, ensuring robust international investigations into war crimes, and expanding documentation efforts to expose the military’s atrocities. Holding the junta accountable is not optional—it’s imperative to prevent further atrocities.
  3. Enhancing Cross-Border Humanitarian Access: Cross-border humanitarian access remains a critical lifeline for hard-to-reach areas in Myanmar. The international community must intensify focused dialogue with neighboring countries—particularly India, Bangladesh, and Thailand—to facilitate cross-border aid efforts. With much of Myanmar’s border regions under the control of resistance forces and the most affected populations living outside the SAC’s administrative reach, aid delivery should prioritize cross-border efforts, bypassing state mechanisms controlled by the junta.

Conclusion

The ongoing humanitarian and human rights crisis in western Myanmar represent one of the most acute yet neglected challenges in the region. Despite its severity, Chin State has often been historically overlooked and underreported, even as it has borne the brunt of violence since the military coup in 2021. Over half of the state’s population has been forcibly displaced, with communities grappling with constant threats to their safety and livelihoods. The urgency for international support has never been more critical. The Chin Human Rights Organization’s (CHRO) efforts, combined with sustained and strategic global engagement, are vital not only to protect civilian lives but also to bring about accountability for war crimes and other atrocities being committed by the junta. Beyond immediate survival, there is a pressing need to foster resilience within these affected communities, so they can recover and rebuild in the face of ongoing violence. As the crisis escalates, the international community can no longer afford to remain passive—lives hang in the balance, and the world’s response will determine the future of thousands.