PH Pushes Aid Fast-Track for Myanmar as Civil War Drags On

The Philippines has renewed its call for urgent humanitarian assistance in Myanmar as the country’s civil war enters its fifth year. Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro raised the issue before the United Nations Security Council while serving as the special envoy of the 2026 ASEAN chair on Myanmar.

Lazaro said Manila continues to support the full implementation of ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus, the regional bloc’s main framework for addressing the crisis. She stressed that aid delivery cannot wait, especially as more civilians are being displaced by the prolonged conflict.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military coup in February 2021, which triggered widespread violence and a steep economic decline. According to the World Health Organization, humanitarian access has become increasingly blocked because armed clashes have intensified in several areas.

Among the hardest-hit places are Chin, Rakhine, and Sagaing, where conflict has disrupted health services and made it harder for patients and medical workers to reach facilities. Lazaro said international cooperation remains crucial if there is to be a Myanmar-led, Myanmar-owned path back to peace.

Recent data cited in the report also showed the heavy human cost of the crisis, with tens of thousands arrested since the coup and thousands confirmed dead. For the Philippines, the message was clear: usapang diplomacy is important, but real help on the ground is urgently needed too.

Source: Philippine News Agency