Unlocking Humanitarian Access: Myanmar
How Subnational Humanitarian Access Assessments Can Transform Crisis Response in Kayin and Shan States
In Myanmar’s Kayin and Shan States, more than 2.8 million people are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. Protracted conflict, mass displacement, and limited access to basic services have left over 1.3 million people in Shan struggling with food insecurity, while more than 700,000 people in Kayin lack access to basic healthcare. These regions face a staggering humanitarian crisis as millions remain cut off from life-saving services.
And then, Typhoon Yagi struck. Over 90,000 people in Kayin and 15,000 in Shan were hit with heavy rains, flooding, and landslides. Already fragile communities saw roads destroyed and vital services blocked. This compound crisis is now one of Myanmar’s most urgent humanitarian emergencies.
As the founder of the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Institute, I lead teams that specialize in disaster analysis and humanitarian response in crises like these. I know that humanitarian access assessments — on-the-ground evaluations of where, how, and why aid is blocked — are key to unlocking these regions. Without them, we can’t effectively reach those who need it the most.
A Protracted Conflict Worsened by a Typhoon
Even before Typhoon Yagi, Myanmar’s Kayin and Shan States were in dire need. Conflict has forced thousands from their homes, and the continued instability means that access to essential services like food, clean water, and shelter remains scarce.
In Kayin State:
850,000 people are in need of aid.
338,000 lack access to clean water and sanitation.
543,000 are severely food insecure.
711,000 require urgent healthcare.
In Shan State:
1.9 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.
1.3 million are food insecure.
273,000 need WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) support.
1.3 million require healthcare services.
But the impact of Typhoon Yagi has made an already critical situation even worse. In Kayin and Shan, thousands of people who were already vulnerable now face even greater isolation as roads wash out, villages flood, and access to these areas becomes nearly impossible. Humanitarian organizations need real-time information on the ground to overcome these barriers.
What Are Humanitarian Access Assessments?
Humanitarian access assessments are essential tools used to determine how aid can reach those cut off by conflict, disasters, or physical and administrative barriers. These assessments analyze access constraints like damaged infrastructure, security threats, or local regulations that prevent aid workers from reaching affected populations.
By conducting these assessments, we can answer key questions:
Who needs aid the most?
What barriers are preventing aid delivery?
How can we overcome those barriers?
The goal is to pinpoint specific communities that have been cut off and create pathways for aid to get through — whether by finding new routes, negotiating access with local authorities, or coordinating with multiple organizations to ensure resources reach the right places.
In complex settings like Myanmar, where conflict overlaps with environmental disasters, assessments provide a roadmap for organizations to navigate safely and efficiently. Without these detailed insights, millions of people remain invisible to the humanitarian system.
The Current Humanitarian Needs Breakdown
Kayin State:
850,000 people in need of aid.
338,000 need clean water and sanitation.
543,000 face food insecurity.
711,000 require medical care.
Shan State:
1.9 million people in need of aid.
1.3 million are food insecure.
273,000 need clean water and sanitation.
1.3 million require medical care.
Typhoon Yagi has displaced over 90,000 people in Kayin and 15,000 in Shan — adding even more pressure to already stretched aid systems.
Why Humanitarian Access Assessments Are Crucial
In a complex environment like Myanmar, access is often blocked by more than just destroyed infrastructure. Conflict, ongoing military activity, local regulations, and even environmental hazards make certain areas impossible to reach without the right information.
Humanitarian access assessments provide that critical intelligence. They identify not only the physical barriers (like washed-out roads) but also the security risks, political dynamics, and logistical challenges that could delay or prevent aid delivery. This allows humanitarian organizations to plan more effectively, coordinate between agencies, and ensure that no one is left behind.
Here’s why these assessments are so important:
Mapping the Need: The first step is identifying the populations most at risk — those with the greatest unmet needs in terms of food, shelter, water, health, and protection services.
Identifying Access Barriers: Next, we assess the logistical and security barriers, including conflict zones, restricted areas, and damaged infrastructure, to determine how these challenges can be overcome.
Improving Coordination: Assessments help us prioritize where and when aid should be delivered, reducing duplication of efforts and improving the efficiency of humanitarian responses.
Enhancing Aid Impact: By targeting aid where it’s needed most, we ensure that limited resources go further, benefiting the greatest number of people.
Data Collection For Social and Humanitarian Impact
The Potential Impact of Access Assessments in Kayin and Shan
By conducting humanitarian access assessments, we have the potential to transform aid delivery in Kayin and Shan States. These assessments can:
Increase Service Reach: Expand access to an additional 175,000 people in areas that are currently cut off by conflict and disaster.
Improve Resource Efficiency: Ensure aid is delivered to the most vulnerable populations, reducing wastage and ensuring every dollar counts.
Coordinate Aid Delivery: Help NGOs, governments, and local organizations work together to avoid duplication and fill gaps in services.
Sector-Specific Projections:
WASH: Assessments could facilitate clean water and sanitation services for an additional 100,000 people in Kayin and Shan States.
Food Security: Over 80,000 people could receive much-needed food assistance, reducing the risk of hunger and malnutrition.
Shelter: Provide 50,000 displaced people with emergency shelter and essential supplies.
Healthcare: Ensure 60,000 people have access to medical care, addressing disease outbreaks and critical health needs.
My Mission as a Humanitarian Leader
As the founder of the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Institute, I’ve seen the devastating impact of both conflict and disasters in crisis zones around the world. By supporting vulnerable communities in Myanmar, we are working to unlock access to some of the most vulnerable populations — people who are currently unreachable due to logistical and security challenges.
At HADR, we believe in the power of humanitarian access assessments because they allow us to see the unseen. Without them, entire communities remain cut off, and millions of people in Myanmar continue to suffer without aid. Our team is preparing to deploy to Myanmar in October to conduct these assessments and help bring aid to those who need it most.
How You Can Help
The crisis in Myanmar is urgent, and we need your support to continue this critical work. Here’s how you can help:
Donate: Every contribution will fund our assessments and help unlock aid for those who need it most.
Share: Spread the word by sharing this article and raising awareness about the crisis in Kayin and Shan States.
Collaborate: If your organization can provide resources or collaborate with us, we’d love to connect.
Your support can make a real difference in ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches the most vulnerable people in Myanmar.
To learn more or to donate, visit: HADR Institute — Humanitarian Operations
Your support can save lives
About the Author:
Mitch King is the founder of the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Institute. With years of experience in humanitarian, stability operations and disaster response, Mitch leads efforts to improve access to aid in crisis and disaster affected regions.
