On 25 March, the Thai government began providing basic food aid for 20,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in need of humanitarian assistance. The aid was delivered to Myawaddy in Myanmar via the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge No. 2 in Mae Sot in Tak province, Thailand. The food supplies will be distributed to three locations sheltering IDPs in Karen State. 1
On 22 March, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and ASEAN special envoy on Myanmar, Alounkeo Kittikhoun met in New Delhi and had a candid discussion on issues related to the situation in Myanmar. While no details were released about their discussion, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs advised all Indian nationals to leave Arakan State due to the deteriorating security situation and not to travel to the Myanmar’s western state. 2
The Indian federal government, which had planned to fence the India-Myanmar border, faced calls from Myanmar nationals in the United States to reconsider its plan and provide protection for Myanmar civilians fleeing violence. On 21 March, they protested outside the Embassy of India in Washington DC, as fencing the border could pose a major obstacle for those trying to escape fighting and forced military conscription inside Myanmar. 3
The U.S. government has extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from Myanmar for 18 months, from May of this year to 25 November 2025, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas announced on 22 March. The TPS law allows Myanmar nationals who are unable to return home safely due to natural disasters, armed conflicts or other extraordinary circumstances to remain and work legally in the United States. 4
Professor Yanghee Lee of the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M) called on Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and the world’s richest person, to support ways for the people of Myanmar and the pro-democracy revolutionaries who are fighting and sacrificing their lives. Lee, a former UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, also pointed out that it is extremely difficult for the world to know what is happening in Myanmar due to the military junta’s internet shutdowns across the country. 5
The Japanese government will provide an additional US$37 million in humanitarian aid for the people of Myanmar who are suffering from the military coup. Since the coup, the Japanese government has continually provided a total of over US$109.5 million in aid through international organizations and non-governmental civil society groups directly benefiting the people of Myanmar. 6
1 Thailand begins aid deliveries for 20,000 IDPs to Myanmar
2 ASEAN special envoy on Myanmar meets Indian external affairs minister
3 Myanmar nationals in US urge India to reconsider border fencing plan
4 US extends Temporary Protected Status for Myanmar immigrants
5 Yanghee Lee calls on Elon Musk to provide free Internet for Myanmar people
6 Japan donates additional US$37 million in humanitarian aid for Myanmar