Middle East crisis deepens hunger in Myanmar; EU responds with EUR 8 million for urgent relief

Since late February, fuel prices have tripled nationwide and the cost of a basic food basket comprising rice, oil, pulses and salt has risen sharply across several regions, with the steepest increases seen in conflict-affected areas. On average, staple food prices are up 18 percent nationwide, with Magway Region recording the highest increase at 38 percent, followed by Kayin and Rakhine states at 32 and 31 percent respectively.

The convergence of the ongoing armed conflict and global fuel shortages is compounding hardship for communities. One in four people in Myanmar – 12.4 million – are acutely food insecure, while 3.7 million remain displaced by ongoing conflict. For families with limited income, savings or access to livelihoods, these price increases are pushing even basic meals further out of reach. 

“As global fuel prices surge, basic necessities in Myanmar have become more and more inaccessible to millions of people who have already been struggling to get by,” said Jessica Chaix, who oversees EU humanitarian programmes in Myanmar. “The EU remains committed to providing a vital lifeline of food and nutrition assistance, ensuring that life-saving assistance continues to reach those most in need in this difficult time.”

The crisis also threatens the upcoming monsoon planting season. Myanmar farmers are cutting back on fertilizer due to high prices and limited supplies. A 50 percent drop in fertilizer use could reduce national agricultural output by up to 15 percent, further inflating prices and worsening food insecurity into 2027.

“The humanitarian situation is no longer just driven by domestic factors such as the ongoing conflict global shocks are now reaching markets, farms and households across the country,” said Michael Dunford, WFP Country Director for Myanmar. “This EU contribution allows us to act now, ensuring that families who have already lost so much are not pushed beyond the point of no return.”

Funding from EU Humanitarian Aid will enable WFP to deliver emergency food assistance to families affected by conflict, displacement, economic hardship and worsening food insecurity, provide specialised nutrition support for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and young children, and strengthen inter-agency coordination on food security.

The EU and WFP remain steadfast partners in the fight against hunger in Myanmar, committed to maintaining a lifeline for the millions who rely on food and nutrition assistance for their daily survival.

Photos are available here.

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About EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid: 

The European Union and its Member States are among the leading donors of humanitarian aid in the world. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity with people in need all around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by disasters and crises. 

Through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department, the European Union helps millions of victims of conflict and disasters every year. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the EU provides assistance to the most vulnerable people on the basis of humanitarian needs.

About WFP:

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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