Myanmar, the Chin State and what you could do to help
Today, the world is traversing a highly perilous period of uncertainty, burdened by numerous geopolitical flashpoints. From the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, emergence of gang violence in Haiti to the intense escalation in the Middle east, the situation in Myanmar remains equally dire.
Yet, in the eyes of major media outlets, the civil turmoil in Myanmar takes on less priority and has faded into obscurity, becoming an afterthought eclipsed by the protracted conflict in the Middle East.
The Basics
While Myanmar may not be in the media spotlight as often as it once was, there is still a great urgency to shed light on the plight that millions are facing due to the 2021 military uprising and subsequent sectarian conflict. Today, the Southeast Asian country is still engulfed in civil war with government forces regularly battling an alliance of rebels, with no end to the conflict in sight.
This is profoundly evident on the western frontier of Myanmar where the Chin state has become one of the hotspots of resistance against the military junta that seized power in a coup back in February 2021. Since then, Chin state has emerged as a key battleground in the countrywide armed struggle against the junta. The region has fallen into a state of anarchy, beset with intense clashes between the Tatmadaw (government forces) and anti-junta resistance groups such as the Chinland Defence Force and the People Defence Force (PDF).
About the Situation in Chin State
As fighting intensified, government forces resorted to airstrikes and ground assaults to weed out the rebels, turning the conflict into a bloodbath. With every protracted conflict, it is usually innocent citizens that were caught between the crosshairs of death and destruction. The Tatmadaw have since conducted airstrikes that target roads, towns, and villages, leaving schools incinerated, hospitals ravaged and infrastructures damaged.
Consequently, the civil war contributed to a significant humanitarian crisis with many killed and thousands of citizens displaced, fleeing into neighbouring India or to safer parts of the state. Reports suggest that the death toll has mounted to 5,300 civilians since the conflict started. Moreover, the United Nations Human Rights office estimated that over 60,000 people have fled to the Indian border states of Mizoram and Manipur, while another 61,000 remain internally displaced. Due to the humanitarian crisis, access to basic necessities like food, medicine, and shelter has become limited.
The War's Impact of Education
In a concerning development, the ongoing skirmishes in Myanmar have also rendered education a rare privilege with regular attacks on schools, teachers, and students. Such atrocities have instilled fear and torment among parents, children, and teachers alike, resulting in hesitance to return to school, and in many cases, eliminating access to education entirely.
Reports have also shown that since the start of the civil war, more than half of the country’s children are now deprived of a formal education. Enrolment levels have declined drastically, leaving almost 7.8 million children out of school. Major International governmental organisations like the United Nations and ASEAN have been urged to assume greater responsibility and take immediate action to protect Myanmar’s children the right to education. With Myanmar currently facing a funding shortfall of 89%, the need for concrete measures to de-escalate the violence and obtain more aid from the international community has never been more profound.
The longer each child remains out of formal education, the chances of being exposed to risks such as drugs, early marriages, forced labour and illicit work increases.
Hence, the desperate need to help protect the future of Myanmar’s next generation cannot be overstated.
What is Children of the Mekong doing about it?
This is where international aid agencies like the Children of the Mekong (COTM) play a crucial role. With its core mission to provide support, educate and help train disadvantaged children across Southeast Asia, COTM has been an active player in helping disadvantaged communities in Myanmar. Since 2021, COTM have constructed and renovated nursing homes, provided essential support for small and isolated foster homes as well as supported the education of schoolchildren in rural areas through the conferment of educational scholarships. Such scholarships cover the cost of the student’s school fee, academic materials, paying for additional class required and even accommodation.
Moreover, due to economic sanctions and lack of foreign investment, Myanmar is experiencing a wave of poverty that has undone its previous progress. The poverty level has now reverted to what it was before the country began opening up in 2005. COTM has been instrumental in helping to reverse the trend by providing destitute and disadvantaged youth with sectorial training programs and career-oriented initiatives. Such efforts are designed to help youths tap into their innate talents, skills and competencies while also inculcating a professional culture to better integrate them into the workforce.
How you can help
However, more needs to be done and COTM cannot do it alone. There is much to be achieved if Myanmar was to recover from its troubles and it needs all the help she can get. Fortunately, there are many ways in which one could support such endeavours and individuals can help too. If schedule, circumstance, and physical conditions permit, donating one’s time and effort would be one of the best ways to help those in need. One can consider volunteering be it to teach children English, help in the construction of schools or even advocate for greater access to education for disadvantaged communities.
If time and circumstance remain a challenge, there are other means to provide support. One could consider the option of donating or being a child sponsor. At Children of the Mekong, individuals can choose to donate in support of any one of the 4 key pillars. Individuals could assist by either 1. sponsoring the construction of schools and boarding houses 2. opt to sponsor a child’s education journey 3. sponsor the training and development of needy youths 4. help vulnerable children and youths to integrate into the professional world
You too can play a pivotal role and be a part of supporting Southeast Asia’s next generation. It is imperative to not underestimate the power of action as any donation or support would go a long way in changing the world of the boys and girls across the Mekong Delta. Just like Martin Luther King who had a dream for a fair and just society where the minority communities could thrive, similarly, the kids of Southeast Asia simply dream for a life of opportunity… and those dreams could well start with you.