By: Camp Correspondent
Rakhine State, May 16, 2025 —
As conflict intensifies across Rakhine State, women, especially those displaced by war, are experiencing severe mental and physical insecurity, according to local voices and rights groups. Daily airstrikes by the military junta, the destruction of homes, and the loss of loved ones have left many women living in fear and trauma.
“There are very few jobs left here. Even if we find work, we’re terrified of bombs falling at any moment,” said one local woman from Rakhine.
“We live with the constant fear of death. Mental stress is the biggest problem for us now.”
Since renewed fighting erupted in 2021, the number of war-affected civilians in Rakhine has grown steadily. According to the Humanitarian Development Coordination Office (HDCO), an estimated 600,000 people have been displaced since late 2024. Many of them are women and children living in fragile camps with little to no access to healthcare or trauma support.
Nang Mo Mo, General Secretary of Women’s Group (Myanmar), emphasized the urgent need to care for women refugees suffering psychological and physical wounds caused by the war.
“Some of these women saw their parents killed in front of them. Others lost everything in bombings and fires,” she said.
“Each woman carries a different kind of pain. We must meet that pain with compassion and provide both short-term aid and long-term mental health support.”
Aid groups working in Rakhine say they face increasing challenges in delivering humanitarian assistance due to security risks and restrictions. Local networks remain overwhelmed, while international organizations struggle to gain access to conflict zones.
The Women’s Group (Myanmar) called on all parties, including armed actors and authorities, to respect humanitarian law and protect civilians—particularly women and children—during times of conflict.
“No matter who is fighting, the suffering falls on ordinary people,” said Nang Mo Mo.
“Everyone involved must take responsibility to reduce harm and protect those caught in the middle.”
With villages destroyed and livelihoods lost, war refugees are left waiting in limbo, often for years, in makeshift shelters and overcrowded camps. Many women carry the added burden of caring for children, managing trauma, and surviving without any consistent income or security.
Rights groups continue to urge international attention and targeted support for war-affected women in Rakhine, before the damage becomes even harder to repair.
Source: Western News
Recent Comments