Speaking has UN News During a visit to U.N. headquarters in New York, Gwyn Lewis, acting resident and U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Myanmar, said global attention had shifted elsewhere even as conditions inside the country continued to deteriorate.

“The crisis in Myanmar is almost invisible,” she said. “There is definitely a feeling in the country that this has been forgotten.»

His comments come as the United Nations and its humanitarian partners warn that Myanmar’s needs will continue to rise in 2026, with limited resources forcing painful choices about who can be helped.

A crisis that has been brewing for years

Since the military takeover in 2021, Myanmar has been plagued by growing armed conflict, repeated natural disasters and economic collapse. Fighting and disasters have already displaced around 3.6 million people, and this figure is expected to rise to around four million next year.

Earlier this month, the UN released its Response plan and humanitarian needs 2026estimating that more than 16 million people – including five million children – will need life-saving assistance and protection in 2026.

Lewis said many families have been forced to leave their homes not only because of the fighting, but also because of a powerful earthquake earlier this year and severe monsoon flooding, leaving people in overcrowded and unsanitary shelters with limited access to food, clean water and health care.

“The scale, severity and complexity of the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar are very, very high,” she said.

Children walk through a flooded displacement camp near the city of Mandalay, north-central Myanmar, after heavy monsoon rains (April 2025).

Hunger and difficult choices

Food insecurity is one of the most pressing concerns. The United Nations World Food Program (PAM) has warned that more than 12 million people in Myanmar will face acute hunger in 2026, and around one million are expected to reach emergency levels requiring immediate assistance.

More than 400,000 young children and mothers already suffer from acute malnutrition and survive on a nutrient-poor diet.

“Conflict and deprivation converge to deprive people of basic means of survival, but the world is not paying attention.“, said Michael Dunford, WFP Country Director.

Financing gaps

The lack of funding is making the crisis worse. By 2025, only about a quarter of the funds required under the humanitarian plan have been received, leaving millions of people without assistance. As a result, humanitarian partners plan to target 4.9 million of the most vulnerable people in 2026, compared to 6.7 million targeted this year.

“We weren’t able to deliver food to everyone we wanted to,” Ms Lewis said. “Families were forced to make impossible choices. »

Access blocked by conflict

Beyond financing, access remains a major challenge.

Ms Lewis warned that Myanmar’s fragmented conflict – involving the military and many armed ethnic groups – often prevents aid workers from reaching communities in need.

Active fighting, checkpoints, road closures and administrative delays regularly slow or block humanitarian deliveries, particularly in remote and frontline areas. Political tensions and upcoming elections could further restrict access.

Families affected by the earthquake receive food aid at a WFP distribution site in the Sagaing region.

A call not to look away

Despite dwindling resources and growing insecurity, humanitarian partners reached around five million people in the first nine months of 2025, although their assistance is often limited in depth and frequency.

Ms Lewis stressed that much more needed to be done to prevent further suffering.

“Behind each number is a person trying to survive a crisis they did not choose,” she said. “We simply cannot allow this to happen again next year.»

Calling on donors and governments to refocus their attention on Myanmar, she urged the international community not to look away.

“The suffering is very deep…and the people of Myanmar deserve to be heard and seen.»

Current estimates place the total damage and losses at between $8 billion and $15 billion, or almost a quarter of Jamaica’s gross domestic product (GDP), said Dennis Zulu, United Nations resident coordinator for Jamaica, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The hurricane affected more than 626,000 people and left 45,000 dead, highlighting its heavy human toll.

Despite notable progress in recovery efforts, 90 emergency shelters are still operational, hosting nearly 950 people who have not yet returned home.

Communities left exposed

Entire communities are still totally exposed, with at least 120,000 buildings – mostly in southwest Jamaica – having lost their roofs, Mr Zulu reported.

Hurricane Melissa triggered “prolonged” and “cascading” disruptions to essential services, the resident coordinator added.

“Western parishes remained without electricity for weeks. »

In addition, many children are out of school due to the extensive damage caused to educational institutions.

About 450 schools, nearly two-thirds of all institutions nationwide, reported significant impacts, including roof loss, structural failure and other damage.

An unprecedented scale of destruction

The tourism industry and agricultural production – once cornerstones of Jamaica’s economy and main sources of employment – ​​have suffered significant damage, putting thousands of jobs and livelihoods at risk, further compounding the pressure.

“This scale of destruction is not only unprecedented, but it has also reversed hard-won development gains in a country that was firmly on a positive social and economic trajectory,” Mr. Zulu stressed.

Despite these challenges, the United Nations continues to work closely with the Jamaican Government, national institutions, civil society and international partners, to provide lifesaving assistance to the most vulnerable communities.

Immediate priorities for recovery:

• Restore health services at safe and fully functional operating levels.
• Support the education sectorespecially as schools prepare to reopen.
• Help restore essential community services for areas still without access.
• Contribute to repair and reconstruction homes, roads and critical infrastructure.
• Restoring livelihoods through targeted support to small farmers, fishermen and micro and small businesses
• Strengthening the agricultural sector to improve food production, food security and rural employment.
• Supporting the tourism sector as a key employer and source of foreign exchange to save jobs and accelerate the recovery.
• Ensure recovery efforts are inclusive, climate resilient and risk-informedenabling Jamaica to build back stronger and better than before.

The prevalence of undernourishment in the region fell to 6.4 percent in 2024, from 7 percent in 2023, marking a significant improvement, according to the report.

This progress translates into 25 million people escaping hunger in just one year.

Progress is uneven, however, with nearly 80 percent of people living in South Asia at risk. Overall, the Asia-Pacific region is still home to nearly 40 percent of the world’s hungry people.

Cost is the culprit

In 2024, 24.4 percent of children under five were stunted, with South Asia recording the highest prevalence. On the other hand, obesity among adults continues to increase, particularly in Oceania (Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific).

The report found that the cost of a healthy diet in the region was on average higher than the global average last year, at $4.77 per person per day in purchasing power parity (PPP).

Among other key recommendations, the report calls on countries to strengthen multi-sectoral policies to combat food insecurity and nutrition.

Key water pipe in Gaza repaired, but conditions remain miserable

In Gaza, a key water pipe in the south is back operational, after a repair team was granted access to the site by Israeli authorities.

The United Nations Aid Coordination Office (OCHA) reported a week ago that the main water pipe connecting Israel to Khan Younis in southern Gaza had suffered damage and was out of service – a major concern for the enclave’s 2.1 million residents.

A request to access the site and carry out repairs was refused at the time.

Prepare for winter

Meanwhile, despite the cold winter temperatures, UN agencies and partners continue to work to help Gazans stay warm.

This includes UNICEFwhich welcomed support from Sweden for winter supplies, sanitation, nutrition and humanitarian cash transfers for children and families.

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Also highlighted the critical need for safe and sturdy shelter.

With help from the Republic of Korea, the agency has replaced more than 800 worn-out tents for displaced Gazans, but this is only the beginning, UNDP insisted.

A new strain of flu is circulating in Europe, according to the WHO

The early arrival of seasonal flu continued to spread across Europe, with at least 27 European countries reporting “high or very high” flu activity on Wednesday.

In six countries – Ireland, Kyrgyzstan, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia and the United Kingdom – more than one in two patients with flu-like symptoms tested positive for the virus, according to the World Health Organization.WHO).

A new variant dominates

The United Nations agency has confirmed that a new flu variant called A(H3N2) now accounts for up to 90 percent of all confirmed cases in the European region.

“This shows how a small genetic variation in the flu virus can put enormous pressure on our health systems, because people have no immunity to this virus,” said Dr Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe.

He also stressed the importance of getting vaccinated quickly.

As in previous flu episodes, school-age children are the primary drivers of community spread. But adults aged 65 and over are generally at greatest risk, making up the majority of severe cases requiring hospitalization.

Speaking to the media outside the council chambers in New York, he highlighted the simmering tensions across Yemen and “spectacular new developments» in its eastern governorates which “increase the pressure”.

Since 2014, Yemeni government forces, backed by a Saudi-led military coalition, have been fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels controlling the capital, Sanaa.

Wider escalation risk

This month, forces affiliated with a separatist group called the Southern Transitional Council (STC) advanced toward two resource-rich governorates, Hadramawt and al-Mahra.

“As I said to Security Council, unilateral actions will not pave the way to peace», the general secretary said. “They deepen divisions. Strengthen positions. And increase the risk of broader escalation and further fragmentation.”

He warned that a full resumption of hostilities could have serious consequences for regional security.

“I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint, ease tensions and resolve disputes through dialogue“, he said.

“This includes regional stakeholders, whose constructive engagement and coordination in support of UN mediation efforts are essential to securing collective security interests. »

A political solution is needed

The Secretary-General stressed that Yemen’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be preserved.

He stressed the need for a “negotiated and lasting political settlement” that takes into account the aspirations of the entire population of the country and puts an end to the conflict.

The fighting has left thousands dead and triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Nearly half the population – 19.5 million people – are in need of humanitarian assistance and almost five million people have been forced to flee their homes.

UN efforts to support the Yemeni people face enormous challenges, particularly in Houthi-controlled areas where “the operational environment has become untenable.”

Release detained staff

The Secretary-General strongly condemned the continued arbitrary detention of 59 personnel of the United Nations and its partners, as well as staff of NGOs, civil society organizations and diplomatic missions, and called for their immediate and unconditional release.

The Houthis de facto Authorities recently referred three UN staff members to a special criminal court. They were charged in connection with the exercise of their official functions at the UN. He said the dismissal should be overturned and all charges should be dropped.

“The continued detention of our colleagues constitutes a profound injustice to all those who have dedicated their lives to helping the people of Yemen,” he said.

“The UN and its partners must never be targeted, arrested or detained while carrying out their official duties. We must be allowed to carry out our work without interference.”

Commitment to peace

The Secretary-General confirmed the UN’s commitment to providing life-saving assistance to millions of people across Yemen despite the challenges.

Since January, more than 5.3 million people have received food, nutrition, water and health assistance, and “with adequate funding and operational space, we can do much more.”

He recalled that the Yemeni parties were already close to peace, during the 2022 truce and agreed commitments in 2023. Although “subsequent developments have seriously complicated the situation”, the path to peace is possible and the UN remains committed to these efforts.

He called on all parties to engage constructively with the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, to “prioritize dialogue over violence and to avoid any unilateral action that could worsen this fragile situation,” adding that “the Yemeni people demand and deserve peace.”