Myanmar

Over 12.4 million people in Myanmar are facing acute food insecurity by mid‑2026, particularly during the lean season, when household food stocks are depleted and reliance on markets increases.

The situation continues to be driven by protracted conflict and widespread displacement, with internally displaced persons now exceeding 3.8 million people, alongside persistent disruptions to livelihoods, markets, and agricultural production systems. Recurrent climate-related shocks, including early monsoon impacts and flooding, further compound vulnerabilities, particularly in already fragile and conflict-affected areas.

The ongoing Middle East crisis is further exacerbating Myanmar’s food security situation by intensifying fuel shortages and driving up fuel and food costs, with significant consequences for agriculture and food systems. Fuel prices are estimated to remain 80–100% above pre-crisis levels, significantly increasing the cost of transport, irrigation, and agricultural operations.

At the same time, high food prices, with the cost of the food basket projected to rise by up to 30%, are further eroding household purchasing power, limiting access to food, and increasing the risk of worsening food consumption, especially among vulnerable populations.

These pressures are already affecting agricultural production. Fuel shortages, elevated fuel prices, rising fertilizer costs, and supply chain constraints are limiting farmers’ access to essential inputs and increasing production costs. As a result, many farmers are reducing fertilizer use, cutting back on irrigation where pumping costs are unaffordable, and scaling back cultivated areas, all of which are expected to lower yields and reduce production in upcoming seasons. Paddy production is projected to decline by 20–25% nationally and by up to 35% in conflict-affected areas.

Together, these compounding shocks—conflict, displacement, economic pressures, the Middle East crisis, and climate impacts, including El Niño—continue to erode household coping capacity and deepen pre-existing vulnerabilities, with increasingly negative consequences for food security outcomes across the country.

In response, the Food Security Cluster continues to prioritize a dual approach, combining life-saving food assistance with emergency food production support, while scaling up coordinated and localized responses to ensure timely and context-specific assistance. Efforts focus on supporting agricultural production, improving access to inputs and services, restoring market linkages, and strengthening community resilience.