More than a year after the military coup, the effects of the recession have made it difficult for orphanages and charities to help orphans and poor children survive, the orphanage officials say.

Since the coup, commodity prices have skyrocketed and economic hardships have left orphanages and shelters struggling to survive due to a lack of donors.

“At the moment, there is no baby formula for infants, so at the moment we have to mix it with cooked rice," an abbot said.

“Currently, we grow our own vegetables. In the past, we used to eat meat regularly. Not now. Currently, we can only cook meat once every 3 or 4 or 5 days. There is no baby formula for infants, so at the moment we have to mix it with cooking rice,” an abbot added.

In addition, we have to prioritize children's food issues and so there are weaknesses in health care and education.

The salaries of teachers who are alos educating their children have been reduced and there is a shortage of stationery due to a lack of donors, an abbot of a monastic school said.

New orphans can no longer be accepted and some children are being returned to their parents due to food and shelter problems.

There are thousands of monastic schools in Myanmar, including orphanages and shelters for orphans and poor children.