MAE SOT, Thailand (AP) — The humanitarian crisis in Myanmar and along its borders has escalated dramatically due to significant cuts in foreign aid from the United States, particularly affecting the nation’s children. An investigation by The Associated Press (AP) highlights the devastating impact of these funding reductions, as countless families are left to suffer in desperate conditions.
The report features testimonies from 21 Myanmar refugees, five individuals trapped in internment camps within Myanmar, and 40 aid workers, medical personnel, and researchers. They revealed a grim reality where children cry for food, safe havens for dissidents are closed, and individuals forage for survival in jungles for hours each day.
The Funding Cuts Have Been Fatal
One heartbreaking account is of Mohammed Taher, who mourned the death of his 2-year-old son due to malnutrition exacerbated by the cessation of food rations at their internment camp in Myanmar. Since April, Taher's family had been without support, leading to the deterioration of his son, Mohammed Hashim. Despite his pleas for help, the family's situation worsened, culminating in the child's tragic passing on May 7. Taher directly blames the U.S. for his son's death, stating, "I lost my son because of the funding cuts," highlighting the dire circumstances facing many children in similar camps.
The United States government has claimed that it continues to support the people of Myanmar, stating that it expects other nations to contribute where possible. However, the reality on the ground tells a different story, as the U.N.'s World Food Program had to cut assistance to 1 million people, which included families like Taher's.
Children Have Paid the Steepest Price
The situation is equally dire for other children in Myanmar. Twelve-year-old Mohama is among those who managed to escape armed conflict, only to face hunger. After fleeing to Thailand with his family, he now lives with his grandparents and must fish in muddy waters to provide meager meals for his family. On one of his better days, he caught about 10 tiny fish, barely enough to sustain him.
Naung Pate, a mother of six, expressed her fear of not being able to provide for her children if U.S. support does not resume, reflecting the anxiety felt by many parents in the region about their children’s survival.
Foraging for Survival
The desperation extends beyond hunger, as evidenced by Mahmud Karmar, a grandfather who forages in the jungle along the Thailand-Myanmar border. He has continued this strenuous activity despite rapidly depleting resources and his own declining health. The cuts in U.S. aid have drastically reduced the support for refugees in this region, leaving many families reliant on scarce food supplies from the jungle.
Karmar lamented his circumstances, stating, "We are almost dying. There is nothing for us here," illustrating the struggle many face to acquire basic needs. He lost his job with the International Rescue Committee due to funding cuts and has also diminished in weight due to starvation. As he searches for food, he sees alarming signs of desperation in his community, including a rise in thefts, driven by people’s dire need to feed their families.
Karmar concluded his account with a plea for mercy from the U.S. government, fearing that without significant assistance, the situation will only continue to deteriorate, and families will not survive much longer under these harsh conditions.
