Introduction

This report provides a locally informed interim assessment of humanitarian access in Karen State (Kayin State per UN terminology), examining key constraints through insights from international actors and local community-based organisations (CBOs).

Global humanitarian efforts often rely on state authorities, sidelining local actors in conflict zones. In Myanmar, official aid is through the State Administrative Council (SAC) controlled NDMO, which has limited access and reliability for delivering aid to non-SAC-controlled areas, such as Karen State. SAC’s bureaucratic barriers and movement restrictions further obstruct aid, while traditional iNGOs and UN agencies have significantly less impact and reliable access in these resistance controlled areas.

By contrast, CBOs, local NGOs, Border Based Organisations (BBOs) and IDP humanitarian services under de facto authorities have proven to be the most effective existing channel for delivering aid—despite often operating outside the traditional humanitarian system. Through community networks, these actors consistently adapt to security risks and logistical challenges, ensuring aid reaches populations deemed inaccessible by conventional means.

This report finds that the most effective means of supporting conflict-affected communities is through local NGO and CBO stakeholders working with de facto authorities, who enable access and provide critical aid where traditional mechanisms fail.

This report provides an interim analysis of humanitarian access constraints and explores alternative pathways for aid delivery. The full report, covering all constraints listed on page 13, with additional risk related information for practitioners, will be released in late March 2025.

Download full report