A bloody civil war has been raging in Myanmar for five years – largely unnoticed by the German and European public. At least 50,000 people have been killed, and more than 1.2 million children are refugees. The humanitarian situation is catastrophic: Every other day, a child dies from disease, malnutrition, landmines, or bombings.
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Five years after the coup
February 1, 2021: The military staged a coup against Myanmar's democratically elected government. The junta established a reign of terror, violently suppressing opposition members, demonstrators, and ethnic minorities. Since then, war has raged across almost the entire country: Pro-democracy and ethnic rebel militias are fighting against the dictatorship – mostly under the banner of the democratic government-in-exile, sometimes for their own territories.
The military junta now reportedly controls only between 20 and 40 percent of the country. But the weaker its position becomes, the more brutally it lashes out: In 2025 alone, there were more than 2,100 bombing attacks by drones, helicopters, and aircraft belonging to the military. Most of these targeted civilian areas: schools, hospitals, and refugee camps.
Terre des Hommes currently supports five projects for children and young people within Myanmar and in the refugee camps of the Thai border region. Five more are in preparation.
- Humanitarian aid
- Food parcels
- clean water
- Medications
- Hygiene emergency aid packages
- Trauma support and psychosocial assistance for children
- Improvised school lessons
- Child protection , especially in refugee camps (behavior in emergency situations, education about abusive behavior)
A Terre des Hommes project in Myanmar is currently focusing primarily on helping the victims of the devastating earthquake in March 2025.
Reports
Projects
Facts and figures
The humanitarian emergency in Myanmar
- Hunger and disease: Large parts of the population are suffering from acute food insecurity. Diseases are spreading, and basic medical care is no longer guaranteed in many regions. Approximately 7 million children in the country are in urgent need of humanitarian aid.
- Displacement and vulnerability: Approximately 3.6 million people – including 1.2 million children – live as internally displaced persons in makeshift camps, often without access to basic supplies.
- Education emergency: An entire generation is growing up without regular education. Approximately 4.7 million children are unable to attend school.
- Child killings: At least 810 children were killed in attacks by the military junta. The actual number is likely to be significantly higher. For example, between 100 and 500 children fell victim to landmines in 2025 alone.
Key developments
What is happening in and around Myanmar
- March 28: An earthquake of magnitude 7.7 causes severe damage, claims thousands of lives and exacerbates the humanitarian crisis.
- April: Following the earthquake, the military intensifies air strikes on civilian areas. These attacks increase further throughout the year.
- May/June: China intensifies its efforts to mediate between the embattled junta and armed groups in the Chinese border region: This also includes increasing arms and drone deliveries to the junta.
- December 28: The military junta begins sham elections, which are scheduled to last until January 2026.
- January 12, 2026: A trial begins before the International Court of Justice against the military leadership, who are accused there of genocide against the Rohingya ethnic minority.
Your contact person
Supitsara Langbubpha
Assistance Programs