The number of internally displaced people (IDPs) fleeing ongoing conflict in Arakan State continues to rise, while shortages of food, inadequate healthcare, and an escalating education crisis place heavy burdens on displaced communities.
Among the most pressing concerns is access to education for children living in IDP camps.
Although the United League of Arakan (ULA), the political wing of the Arakan Army (AA), has opened schools and begun implementing a more systematic education administration this year, many displaced children remain out of school due to severe financial and social challenges.
“With the work I have now, even if I work all day, I earn only about 5,000 MMK. That’s not even enough to cover basic food costs. When we can’t manage our daily meals, education becomes something we simply cannot think about,” said Ma Me Kyi, an IDP woman from Kyauktaw Township.
Humanitarian assistance to IDP camps has also declined sharply, leaving residents struggling to meet basic survival needs. Although some IDPs can earn up to 20,000 MMK per day, incomes remain far below what is needed to keep up with soaring commodity prices, making it extremely difficult for parents to support their children’s education.
The rising cost of school supplies, including notebooks and pens, has become another major barrier preventing children from accessing education. Many children reportedly want to attend school but refrain from asking their parents, aware of the financial pressure their families face.
“Our children want to go to school, but they can’t. They see our situation and feel afraid to ask. A set of textbooks costs around 120,000 MMK. Even if they have the desire to study, they know we cannot afford the stationery,” said Daw Sab Nu, another IDP mother in Kyauktaw.
Consequently, many displaced children are deprived of even basic education, jeopardizing their future prospects. Older children in IDP camps are frequently forced to leave school to care for younger siblings or help support their families.
Rather than attending classes, some children are forced into physically demanding work, including foraging wild vegetables in the mountains and gathering firewood from surrounding forests.
U Naing Lin Tun, chairman of the Zinchaung Youth Philanthropic Association in Kyaukphyu Township, said parents in IDP camps are struggling simply to survive and therefore cannot support their children’s education.
“They can’t afford stationery or other school essentials. Even when parents want to help their children continue studying, survival comes first because they’re just trying to get through each day,” he told DMG.
United Nations figures indicated that approximately five million children across Myanmar are currently deprived of their right to education, with displaced children in Arakan State among the most affected. As final examinations approach, many displaced students still lack even basic materials such as books or pencils.
Observers said there is an urgent need for the ULA, along with domestic and international humanitarian organizations, to strengthen support for education initiatives aimed at helping displaced children regain access to learning opportunities in Arakan State.
