Rakhine, located on the western coast, is one of Myanmar's poorest and least developed states. The population comprises diverse ethnic and religious groups. 60% of the population, comprised of the majority Rakhine ethnic group, are Buddhists. 30% comprises Muslims, including Kaman Muslims and self-identifying Rohingya Muslims, many of whom are stateless. The remaining 10% consists of smaller ethnic and religious groups. 

Conflict and a state of mistrust between the various ethnic groups is an underlying cause of the high rates of poverty, protection issues, and low access to services in Rakhine State. Since 2012, Rakhine has been shaken by ongoing conflict, not only inter-communal but also between militia, insurgent groups, and the army.  

Life has always been hard for the Rakhine population, but it has only been made worse by the military coup in February 2021, which has all but crippled the economy, leading to a devaluation of the local currency, and rapid inflation, loss of livelihood, and food insecurity. Families in Rakhine also live in constant fear of violence, even as tensions between the junta and Arakan army have risen in recent months. The most vulnerable are struggling to access basic necessities and feed their children. The challenges, one after another, seem insurmountable. 

Key Challenges (exacerbated by the current crisis)

• Widespread poverty (69% of the population)
• Conflict and a state of mistrust between various ethnic groups
• Movement restrictions and limited livelihood opportunities
• Prone to seasonal floods and cyclones
• Poor access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH) facilities
• Poor education infrastructure and child protection

World Vision is currently working in Mrauk-U Township to protect vulnerable children and families. Your donation will help us to: 

• Train children, parents/caregivers, and the community on child rights and child protection, as well as establish mechanisms to respond to and prevent child protection incidents
• Equip families with much-needed livelihood assistance and skills (e.g. home gardening, animal raising, etc.) so they can improve their food security and feed their children nutritious meals 
• Improve access to basic sanitation facilities and clean water sources to fight COVID-19
• Improve the learning environment for children, including the provision of teaching aids and school construction
• Set up child-friendly spaces where children can gather to play, learn and heal from trauma

Help give the children of Rakhine some stability amidst the current uncertainty, by providing them with life’s basic essentials of food, water, education, and child protection. 

To find out more about our work in other dangerous places, click here.