News Updates

Nestle to close factory, head office in Myanmar

Due to the "current economic situation" Nestle's factory in the commercial hub Yangon, as well as its head office, would "cease operations", a spokesperson told AFP, without giving a timeframe. Nestle sells Nescafe instant coffee, Maggi noodles and Milo chocolate malt beverage in Myanmar. A Myanmar firm would instead market and distribute Nestle products from Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines, the spokesperson said.

How Myanmar achieved the 2020 milestone of reducing TB disease burden

Myanmar is one of the countries with a high burden of TB, TB-HIV and drug-resistant TB. As per the Global Tuberculosis Report 2021 of WHO, an estimated 167000 people fell ill with TB in the country. An estimated 22000 deaths occurred in the country due to the disease, including 2900 deaths of people living with HIV, in 2020. There were also an estimated 10000 new cases of rifampicin-resistant (RR) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB emerging in the year. The biggest social determinants and drivers of TB in Myanmar are undernourishment (40000), smoking (19000), HIV (14000), alcohol use (7700) and diabetes (6500). While all countries in the Region have continued to accelerate efforts to end TB, Myanmar is among a few high-TB burden countries and the only one in the WHO SE Asia Region to achieve the 2020 milestone targets of a 20% reduction of TB incidence from the 2015 baseline, in alignment with the WHO End TB Strategy which is in turn aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals related to ending TB by 2030.

Myanmar Junta Extends Martial Law

On February 22, Myanmar’s junta announced martial law orders for three additional townships in Sagaing Region, after expanding martial law in 37 townships elsewhere in the country earlier this month. A total of 50 townships are now under martial law in Chin, Kachin, Karen, Karenni, and Mon States, as well as in Yangon and Mandalay Regions. The three townships in Myanmar’s northwest now fall under the executive and judicial jurisdiction of regional military commander Maj. Gen. Than Htike, who has been sanctioned by the European Union for serious human rights violations, including excessive use of force and an attack on a school in Depayin township in September 2022 that killed 11 children.

Myanmar’s perilous political road and what it means for the Rohingyas

If Rohingya repatriation is to be realized, Bangladesh must work in multiple fronts with the regime and shadow government as well as the great powers to ensure it ensures a smooth sailing to the burning crisis.

Myanmar begins reissuing passports as more people look to leave

Issuances were suspended for about two months before being resumed on Friday.


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