Myanmar Health Cluster Bulletin (May 2026)

Highlights

• Ongoing surge in deadly attacks on health care with 73 incidents reported by Insecurity Insight between 1 January and 31 May 2026, as compared to 38 verified attacks on health care recorded by WHO’s Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care (SSA). Use of heavy weapons continues to be the highest reported type of incident, followed by obstruction, psychological violence and removal of assets. Health Cluster will conduct SSA awareness sessions to encourage partners to report any attack on health care directly in the online system.
• Intensification of airstrikes and drone attacks in Chin, Magway, Rakhine, and Sagaing as well as Kachin, Karenni and northern Shan, severely impeding access to health care and transport of medical supplies.
• Lack of vector control and bednets are triggering a malaria surge in Chin, Kachin, and Tanintharyi. Because of inadequate testing and treatment, malaria outbreaks are able to rapidly expand.
• Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) outbreaks resulting from poor hygiene practices in Karen, Karenni, Mon, Sagaing, and Southern Shan. Lack of testing and awareness is leading to rapid spread of the disease. Joint Health-Nutrition-WASH Cluster AWD Action Planning at sub-national level ongoing as part of monsoon preparedness – Measles preparedness in Rakhine stepped up after continuing largescale measles outbreak in neighbouring Bangladesh: ongoing training of health workers on diagnosis and treatment of measles cases, and continuing advocacy for urgent, large-scale immunization, after 5 years of zero vaccination.

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