Myanmar civil war (2021–present) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Myanmar civil war |
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| Part of the internal conflict in Myanmar | |||||||
 Map of the Myanmar civil war in October 2022 |
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The Myanmar civil war is a big conflict happening right now in Myanmar. It's also called the Myanmar Spring Revolution or the People's Defensive War. This war started after the military took control in 2021. Before that, Myanmar already had some smaller conflicts. But the military takeover and the harsh actions against people protesting made things much worse.
After the military took over, many people didn't agree with it. They formed a group called the National Unity Government (NUG). This group then started fighting back against the military. By 2022, the opposition groups controlled a lot of land, but these areas didn't have many people living in them. The fighting forced many thousands of people to leave their homes. By early 2023, the military leader said they had lost control of "more than a third" of the country's areas. Some experts think the real number is even higher.
This conflict has caused a lot of problems for people. By September 2022, about 1.3 million people had to move from their homes to other places inside Myanmar. By March 2023, the United Nations (UN) said that 17.6 million people needed help. Also, 1.6 million people were displaced, and 55,000 buildings were destroyed. Over 40,000 people even fled to nearby countries.
Contents
Why the Conflict Started
The Military Takes Over
On February 1, 2021, Myanmar's military, also known as the Tatmadaw, took control of the government. They removed the elected leaders, like former president Win Myint and Aung San Suu Kyi. These leaders were arrested early in the morning. Min Aung Hlaing, a military general, became the country's de facto ruler.
Reasons for the Coup
It's not fully clear why the military took over. The Tatmadaw said there were problems with the 2020 elections, claiming many votes were wrong. But they didn't show proof. Many people believe the military wanted to get back the strong power they had for a long time in the country. They had lost some of that power ten years before the coup.
People Fight Back
After the military took over, many people protested peacefully. But the military used violence against these protests. This led to people forming armed groups to fight the military government, which is called the State Administration Council. These groups came together under the name People's Defence Force (PDF). They follow the orders of the National Unity Government (NUG), which was formed by the elected leaders who were removed. In September 2021, the PDF and NUG officially said they were fighting a "defensive war" against the military. Sadly, many people have lost their lives in this violence since the 2021 coup.
How the War Affects the Economy
Economic Challenges in Myanmar
The ongoing war and the military government's poor management have made Myanmar's economy much worse. In 2021, the country's economy shrank by 5.9%. Many skilled people have left the country, similar to what happened after past military takeovers. It's very hard to find jobs in Myanmar now.
Money and Prices
By September 2022, the value of Myanmar's money, the Burmese kyat, had dropped by over 60%. At the same time, prices for basic things like food and other goods went up by as much as 57%. The World Bank thought Myanmar's economy would shrink even more in 2022. Since April 2022, the country has also had problems getting foreign money, like US dollars. This makes it hard for businesses to buy important things from other countries, like medicines and fertilizers. Many foreign companies have left Myanmar because of the conflict.
What Other Countries Are Doing
International Response
In June 2021, the United Nations General Assembly asked countries to stop selling weapons to Myanmar. Many international groups, like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, are still pushing the UN and its member countries to stop all weapon sales to Myanmar.
ASEAN's Actions
ASEAN, a group of countries in Southeast Asia, has stopped Myanmar from joining their big meetings since the 2021 coup. However, the ASEAN countries don't all agree on how to deal with the civil war. Some countries, like Indonesia and Malaysia, are strongly against the military government. But Thailand continues to be a friend of the military government.
Sanctions from Other Nations
Countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union have put sanctions (special rules) on people and groups connected to Myanmar's military. These sanctions are meant to punish them for the violence. But these actions haven't always worked as well as hoped, partly because countries don't always work together on them.
New US Law
On December 23, 2022, U.S. President Joe Biden signed a new law called the BURMA Act. This law gives the president more power to make changes related to Myanmar. It allows the US to give non-military help to groups like the NUG and other pro-democracy organizations. It also helps provide aid to the country and allows for new sanctions, including on Myanmar's oil and gas company. The law also helps the US government work with others to find and record evidence of serious crimes, like war crimes, happening in Myanmar.
See also
- Internal conflict in Myanmar
- 2021 Myanmar coup d'état
- Myanmar protests (2021–present)
In Spanish: Guerra civil birmana de 2021-2023 para niños
