Displaced children, pregnant mothers face malnutrition in Arakan State

By Admin 29 Aug 2026

DMG Newsroom

29 August 2026, Kyauktaw

Internally displaced children and pregnant mothers in Arakan State are suffering from malnutrition due to severe livelihood hardships, with some experiencing deteriorating health conditions, according to local sources.

Displaced residents face daunting daily survival challenges due to a scarcity of job opportunities, soaring commodity prices, and limited aid supplies.

As a result, displaced children and pregnant women lack access to adequate food, resulting in widespread malnutrition.

"Eating a balanced, nutritious diet depends on money. Since we cannot earn much, we have to stretch our budget just to keep the family fed, leaving us unable to afford proper nutrition. It's not just about me eating enough; I also have to prioritize my children," said Daw Nyo Nyo Than, a pregnant mother displaced from Sittwe Township and currently taking shelter in Kyauktaw.

She added that although pregnant women at displacement camps receive cash assistance every four months, the funds must be used to cover general family expenses and urgent medical costs.

Facing extreme financial hardship, families are forced to survive on whatever food is available, leaving young children vulnerable to nutritional deficiencies, according to displaced residents.

"If we eat fish one day, we have to manage with simple vegetable curry the next day. We just try to stretch what we have to get by. When we run out of money, we have to borrow from others. While others manage as best they can, my young daughter might eat one day and go without proper food the next, so she gets no real nutrition," said Daw Aye Hla Nu, who fled Sittwe Township to Kyauktaw Township.

Many displaced children are deprived of meat and fish with their rice, as well as nutritious snacks, leaving them vulnerable to nutritional deficiencies.

Humanitarian workers report that displaced children from Thandwe Township are similarly suffering from malnutrition, with some showing signs of deteriorating health.

"Because most displaced families cannot afford to feed their children meat, fish, or other nutritional supplements, we see children with weakened immunity and deteriorating health. They simply cannot afford nutritious food. In some cases, mothers of displaced infants cannot produce enough breast milk and cannot afford to buy infant formula," said a female aid worker.

Displaced residents from Thandwe Township said that while they receive basic rations of rice, oil, and salt, the supplies are insufficient, leaving them in constant distress over their daily needs.

Consequently, displaced people are calling for urgent relief aid to ensure that young children and pregnant mothers in IDP camps receive adequate nutrition.

The ongoing armed conflict in Arakan State has displaced more than 500,000 people, the majority of whom are women and children.

According to figures published by the World Food Programme (WFP), more than 4 million people are displaced across Myanmar, with nearly 400,000 children facing malnutrition.