In January 2026 there were elections in Myanmar. This should have been the moment for the people to make their voices heard and change the regime. But in reality, there was no electable opposition to the junta. Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy has been banned for years. The National Unity Government, founded by the ethnic groups fighting the junta, is not recognized by the junta. And the smaller parties in Myanmar are powerless to make a difference. Moreover, the law stipulates that 25% of the vote goes to the military.
Therefore, voting was pointless. The elections were a sham from the outset. However, the military government pressured the population to vote anyway and brought busloads of people to the polling stations. Employees of government organizations had to prove they had voted, otherwise they would be fired. And criticizing the elections is a punishable offense. A hopeless situation!
Meanwhile, the military regime's reign of terror continues. Myanmar is experiencing a humanitarian crisis. The economy has collapsed, resulting in a severe food crisis. The healthcare system is under severe strain due to outbreaks of diseases such as COVID-19 and cholera.
In early 2025, the country was hit by a major earthquake in the Mandalay and Sagaing regions. According to the UN, 3,800 people were killed and 5,000 injured. 50,000 buildings and homes were severely damaged, and 200,000 people were left homeless. Many still live in makeshift shelters.
The combination of violence, poverty, disease, and the natural disaster has made the situation in Myanmar more dire than ever. Some facts at a glance:
- 22 of the 55 million inhabitants are dependent on aid;
- 4.3 million people are internally displaced;
- 1.5 million people are fleeing (including to Bangladesh and Thailand).
Due to the wars in Europe, Myanmar is rarely in the news. The focus of supporting people in need has shifted from developing countries to Europe. This is logical, but not without consequences. The people of Myanmar have unfortunately been left to fend for themselves and to the aggressors.
