UN Warns of Humanitarian Crisis in Myanmar Due to US Aid Cuts

The UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, Thomas Andrews, stated on Monday in Geneva that U.S. cuts to humanitarian aid are having a devastating impact on the people of Myanmar. He warned that violence is likely to escalate due to the sudden reduction in food and health programs. Andrews highlighted that the withdrawal of support, primarily from the U.S. government, is worsening the humanitarian situation, especially as airstrikes and violence by the military junta increase. He also noted that recent cuts to the World Food Programme could lead to famine in Rakhine State. Furthermore, people in Myanmar are losing access to medical care, with some HIV patients unable to receive medication due to cuts in U.S.-funded health programs. These destabilizing conditions, Andrews warned, could lead to sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and increased migration across the Myanmar border.