It has been three and a half years since the attempted military coup in Burma/Myanmar. Over the last six months, from January to June 2024, the junta has intensified its attacks as resistance forces continue to gain more territory, bases, and troops. The junta’s retaliatory actions have specifically targeted innocent civilians nationwide, aiming to isolate and intimidate communities through sustained militarization campaigns rooted in fear.
According to the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR), the junta's airstrikes have increased fivefold. Furthermore, in May 2024, the United Nations reported that the number of internally displaced people in Burma/Myanmar had surged by 50% in response to the escalating violence.
According to the UN, at least 3 million people have been forced to flee conflict. However, local civil society organizations estimate even higher numbers, with one million displaced in Karen State alone. With the conflict and climate change forcing people from their homes, nearly 20 million people require urgent humanitarian assistance, including 6 million children.
The junta's response to its territorial and military losses has been to accelerate operations and recruit more soldiers by enacting its national mandatory conscription laws, which took effect in February 2024. The law makes military service compulsory for all men aged 18-35 and women aged 18-27 requiring at least two years of service, with penalties of up to five years imprisonment for evasion. The conscription announcement has instilled fear in families, particularly among young men, who are now faced with the prospect of compulsory military service amidst ongoing conflict.
Along with the intensifying offensives, many civilians are seeking asylum in neighboring countries. The International Organization for Migration in Thailand reported a 30% increase in border crossing from Burma/Myanmar between January and February 2024. However, several neighboring countries have denied entry to refugees fleeing the conflict. India, notably, has plans to construct a border fence to improve security and has initiated deportation measures against incoming refugees.
The junta's violence continues to pose life-threatening risks to the safety and well-being of women and young girls in Burma/Myanmar. Beyond the immediate physical dangers, women's access to essential services like healthcare, education, and livelihood opportunities has been severely disrupted. Pregnant women and new mothers in temporary shelters and displacement camps are struggling to access adequate medical care, leading to worrying increase in miscarriages and malnourished infants. Furthermore, women, who make up the majority of low-income workers, are particularly vulnerable to exploitation in the labor market. These compounded challenges have left many women feelings isolated and neglected.