Geneva – Myanmar is spiraling further into humanitarian crisis, marked by escalating military attacks, restricted aid access, and a collapsing support system, pushing millions towards starvation and despair. A recent briefing to the Human Rights Council revealed a country gripped by war, repression, and deepening suffering, with a particularly alarming increase in violations against children.
Since the military coup in February 2021, nearly 6,800 civilians have been killed and over 22,000 remain arbitrarily detained, according to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. The escalating conflict has created immense humanitarian needs, with nearly 22 million people requiring assistance and over 3.5 million displaced from their homes. Despite these challenges, Türk emphasized that people across Myanmar continue to strive for a peaceful, sustainable, and democratic future grounded in human rights.
Worsening Conditions and Obstruction of Aid
The situation on the ground has deteriorated significantly in recent months. Following a devastating earthquake on March 28th that killed nearly 4,000 people and left six million in urgent need of relief, the military reportedly intensified attacks instead of facilitating aid delivery. The UN human rights office, OHCHR, documented over 600 military strikes since the earthquake, with 94 percent occurring during supposed ceasefires. These strikes frequently targeted protected locations such as schools and religious sites.
Rakhine State: A Dire Situation for Rohingya
The situation in Rakhine state remains particularly critical, with civilians – especially the minority Muslim Rohingya population – caught between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group. The military’s obstruction of humanitarian access has exacerbated an already acute crisis in the region.
Surge in Child Soldier Recruitment
Alarmingly, the recruitment and use of child soldiers by the Myanmar military has surged since the 2021 coup, including a significant number recruited after the junta enacted a conscription law in February 2024. The United Nations Secretary-General reported verifying 2,138 grave violations against children in armed conflict in Myanmar in 2024, including recruitment, with approximately 1,200 additional violations pending verification.
The UN has verified over 1,800 cases of children as young as 12 being recruited by junta and affiliated forces since the coup, though officials acknowledge that the actual number is likely significantly underreported due to monitoring challenges and fear of retaliation. Local civil society groups and opposition activists have reported finding child soldiers among captured combatants and military defectors. Recruiters are reportedly abducting children or opportunistically recruiting those who are unaccompanied, displaced, or working, and then concealing or failing to verify their ages. The military has sent children to the front lines and used them as guides, porters, and, at times, as human shields.
“The Myanmar military has a long and appalling history of using children as porters, guides, and in combat roles,” said Shayna Bauchner, Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The junta should immediately stop using child soldiers and cooperate with UN officials to release all child recruits from their forces.”
International Response and Human Rights Concerns
The UN Secretary-General has listed the Myanmar junta as the sole state actor responsible for five grave violations against children in armed conflict: recruiting and using child soldiers, killing and maiming, sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals, and abduction. The UK has also voiced strong concerns regarding the human rights situation in Myanmar, calling for accountability for the ongoing violations and urging the junta to allow unimpeded humanitarian access.
In 2025, Myanmar was identified as the deadliest year for children since the 2021 coup, with a significant increase in the number of children killed and injured as a direct result of the conflict. The UN annual report highlights a sharp increase in the overall human rights crisis, particularly concerning the rights of children.
What to Watch Next
The international community continues to monitor the situation in Myanmar closely, with ongoing discussions within the UN Security Council regarding potential further action. The focus remains on ensuring the protection of civilians, particularly vulnerable groups like children and the Rohingya population, and on facilitating humanitarian access to those in need. The future of Myanmar hinges on the military junta’s willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue and respect fundamental human rights.
Share your thoughts on this developing story in the comments below.