Welcome to a world torn apart by conflict and devastation. Four years after the coup d’état, Myanmar, a country in Southeast Asia, finds itself among the most violent places on earth. Approximately 15 million people are projected to suffer from hunger in the course of 2025. Father Bernardino Ne Ne paints a grim picture, stating that thousands of individuals are teetering on the brink, residing in refugee camps or makeshift settlements in the forests.
Paolo Affatato – Vatican City
A Nation in Turmoil
Four years of civil war have left Myanmar on the brink of collapse. On the anniversary of the coup that overthrew the democratically elected government on February 1, 2021, the nation confronts a harsh reality. According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (Acled), Myanmar is now considered the most violent place on earth, with over 50,000 fatalities, including more than 8,000 civilians, and over 3.5 million displaced individuals. This is a conflict that Pope Francis has not hesitated to address in his repeated calls for peace.
Hunger and Disease
War breeds hunger, which has reached alarming levels in Myanmar. The situation is expected to deteriorate in 2025, with the World Food Programme (WFP) warning that over 15 million people will suffer from hunger this year, compared to 13.3 million last year. Those living in conflict-affected areas, where clashes between the military and opposition forces persist, are experiencing high levels of food insecurity. Additionally, 20 million people – over a third of the entire population – will require assistance for nutrition and healthcare. The number of displaced individuals is also projected to increase by a million in 2025 as the conflict spreads to new areas.
Extreme Poverty
“Food prices in Myanmar continue to rise every month. People lack the resources to purchase essential goods due to widespread poverty,” notes Father Bernardino Ne Ne, a priest serving in the violence-stricken diocese of Loikaw in eastern Myanmar. Thousands of individuals are on the verge of collapse, living in refugee camps or makeshift settlements in the forests. They struggle to survive and rely solely on aid from charitable groups, including Catholic organizations. Even the bishop and priests in Loikaw, where the military has occupied the cathedral of Christ the King, are living as displaced individuals, fully sharing the plight of refugees.
The Scourge of Landmines
One particularly harrowing aspect of the conflict is the use of anti-personnel landmines. According to the 2024 Landmine Monitor, military forces have increased the deployment of mines that indiscriminately kill and maim civilians. In the past year, civilian casualties from mines have been documented in all 14 states and regions of Myanmar and in approximately 60% of cities. There were 692 civilian mine victims in the first six months of 2024, a third of whom were children. Soldiers enter villages and force residents to flee, strategically placing landmines in areas like villages, farms, rice and corn fields, and around military encampments. The intentional targeting of civilians by the military, accusing them of supporting opposition forces, leads to devastating consequences.
The Plight of Child Labor
After four years of conflict, the situation reveals a regime seeking to bolster its ranks through mandatory conscription. Many young people fleeing recruitment end up in neighboring Thailand to avoid military service. Alongside this phenomenon, there has been a surge in child labor, driven by a shortage of workers due to the war. Children are recruited for sectors such as clothing production, agriculture, catering, domestic work, construction, and street vending, in blatant violation of children’s rights. The Federation of Trade Unions of Myanmar highlights the heightened vulnerability of children to exploitation. With many schools remaining closed in various areas, children have been deprived of their fundamental right to education for years, with severe repercussions for their future.
The Catholic Church’s Response
Amidst this tragic backdrop, as recounted by Father Hyginus Myint Soe from Yangon, the Catholic community is enduring a time of desert, immersed in a nation ravaged by civil conflict. Church activities often revolve around sacramental celebrations in churches. The commitment of priests, religious, and laypeople, whether in the most violent regions or in areas plagued by tension and fear but not violence, is to reach out to the needy, the displaced, and those suffering from poverty or despair – where homes, jobs, food, daily sustenance, and education are lacking. In this Jubilee year, they become bearers of hope.
