Myanmar: Violence Against Health Care in Conflict 2024
13 June 2025
Overview
The Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC) identified 308 incidents of violence against or obstruction of health care in Myanmar in 2024, compared to 420 in 2023, 290 in 2022 and 491 in 2021. In these incidents, health facilities were damaged 135 times and occupied on 67 occasions. In addition, 91 health workers were arrested and 31 killed.
- Fighting between conflict parties since the 2021 military coup has left an estimated 3.3 million people internally displaced and crippled Myanmar’s health care system amid profound insecurity.
- Damage to health facilities by military aircraft strikes almost doubled in 2024 compared to 2023, as government forces lost more territory.
- Travel restrictions and administrative barriers have drastically reduced emergency referrals, with maternal and neonatal mortality rates sharply increasing as a result.
The Context
Armed conflict erupted in Myanmar in the wake of the 2021 military coup. This plunged the country into one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, marked by fighting, political repression and widespread displacement. Revolutionary forces aligned with the National Unity Government (NUG) now claim control of large areas of the country amid violence between several ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), including the Arakan Army (AA), Chinland Defense Force, Karen National Liberation Army, Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Karen National Union (KNU), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA), and United Wa State Army (UWSA), as well as local resistance forces.
Widespread human rights abuses persist, with over 20,000 political detainees, including nearly 4,000 women, in detention under harsh conditions imposed by the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF). Conflict has left an estimated 3.3 million people internally displaced and killed nearly 5,000 people since 2021.
The conflict has devastated the economy, driving hyperinflation (25.4% in 2024) and transportation and food costs (148% increase since 2023), which impede humanitarian aid delivery. Typhoon Yagi destroyed homes, crops and infrastructure, leaving 1.1 million people struggling to recover.
Violence Against or Obstruction of Health Care in 2024
Incidents of violence against or obstruction of health care were reported throughout 2024 and, as in previous years, were widely dispersed across seven regions, seven states, one union territory, one self-administered division, and five self-administered zones. Most incidents were recorded in Sagaing region, although reports decreased in the region compared to previous years. Incidents tripled in Rakhine state and continued in Mandalay region and Shan state (see below for more details). The overall decrease in incidents in 2024 was driven by a reduction of MAF health worker arrests, except in Mon and Rakhine states, where they increased, as the MAF lost control over more territory. Damage to health facilities caused by MAF aircraft strikes nearly doubled in 2024 compared to 2023. Health worker killings increased in Rakhine and Shan states. Confiscations of medical supplies, medicine shortages caused by blockades and general access constraints continue to be reported.
Most incidents affected health care providers working for a de facto government authority, either health structures set up by the NUG, ethnic health organizations or the General Administration Department of the military junta’s State Administrative Council. Private health care providers were impacted in 18 incidents and local NGOs in 16 incidents. Red Cross societies were impacted in two incidents and an INGO once.
Similar to previous years, most incidents were attributed to the MAF. EAOs that included the AA, the Chinland Defense Force and the KIA were named in some incidents. Also mentioned in 2024 were the KNU, MNDAA, SNA and UWSA.
Country-wide impact of attacks on health care
Myanmar’s profound insecurity has crippled its health care system. Over 70% of medical professionals have fled the country, leaving a skeletal workforce to operate under life-threatening conditions. Hospitals and clinics have been destroyed, repurposed as military bases, or rendered inoperable due to power outages and fuel shortages.
Travel restrictions and administrative barriers have drastically reduced emergency referrals, with maternal and neonatal mortality rates sharply increasing as a result. In Yangon, MSF operates the only remaining tuberculosis hospital, but aid restrictions and limited resources have curtailed its ability to treat patients, particularly those with drug-resistant TB or HIV. In the context of a systemic suppression of civil liberties, health workers face violence, arbitrary arrest and constant surveillance. The convergence of political repression, economic collapse, natural disasters, and conflict dynamics has created an environment where health workers and civilians alike struggle to survive, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated international action.
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