Mizzima

The United States government announced this week they are providing additional humanitarian aid for the people of Myanmar.

In a press release on 15 February, the United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing an additional $50 million in humanitarian assistance for emergency food and nutrition assistance in Burma, where increased displacements, armed conflict, and growing food insecurity are compounding existing needs.

According to the United Nations’ recently released Humanitarian Needs Overview, more than 17 million people across Burma, almost one in three, are now in need of humanitarian assistance in 2023, compared to less than one million in 2020.

With this new funding, USAID will work with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) to treat and prevent malnutrition in conflict-affected states, helping more than 750,000 people. This assistance includes providing monthly food rations, as well as nutrition commodities for children under five, and pregnant and lactating women, the press release says.

USAID says it remains committed to providing immediate and emergency life-saving support to people in need throughout Burma and commends those working peacefully towards an inclusive and democratic future for the people of Burma.