U.S. Aid Cuts Worsen Myanmar Crisis, U.N. Expert Warns

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U.S. Aid Cuts Worsen Myanmar Crisis, U.N. Expert Warns

Geneva: The reduction of U.S. humanitarian aid is severely impacting Myanmar’s population, exacerbating an already dire situation and increasing the likelihood of further violence, according to Thomas Andrews, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar.

Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva on Monday, Andrews described the sudden withdrawal of aid—primarily by the United States—as devastating for those in need.

The situation in Myanmar has deteriorated as military airstrikes and violence continue to escalate. The military junta, which took control in 2021, has intensified its actions against opposition forces and civilians alike. The loss of critical food and healthcare support has only deepened the crisis, Andrews explained.

Following U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 90-day freeze on all foreign aid after taking office on January 20, humanitarian programs have suffered. Cuts to the World Food Programme, in particular, have heightened concerns of an imminent famine in Myanmar’s western Rakhine State.

Medical services have also been severely impacted, leaving vulnerable groups without essential care. Andrews noted that some HIV patients have gone without medication for the past seven weeks due to the defunding of U.S.-supported health initiatives.

"This unfolding catastrophe is both unnecessary and cruel," he said, presenting a newly released U.N. report on the human rights situation in Myanmar.

Andrews warned that worsening conditions could lead to a rise in human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and mass displacement, pushing more people to flee into neighboring Bangladesh and beyond.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in early 2021. The coup ignited a widespread protest movement, which has since evolved into an armed resistance against the junta across the country.

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