Myanmar heads to the polls on Sunday as the country remains engulfed in a civil war and one of Asia’s gravest humanitarian crises.
The vote comes nearly five years after a 2021 military coup that ousted an elected civilian government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi.
The election is unfolding in phases, with voting cancelled in dozens of townships due to fighting and insecurity.
Critics view the process as an attempt by the military to legitimise its continued rule amid ongoing conflict.
Large areas of the country remain contested by ethnic armed groups and opposition militias, limiting both campaigning and voter participation.
Myanmar’s humanitarian situation has sharply deteriorated as violence, economic disruption, and natural disasters compound existing poverty.
The United Nations estimates that around 20 million of the country’s 51 million people now require humanitarian assistance.
More than 3.6 million people have been displaced, while thousands of civilians have been killed since the coup.
Food insecurity is widespread, with more than 16 million people classified as acutely food insecure.
Over 12 million people are projected to face acute hunger next year, including one million needing lifesaving support.
Children have been particularly affected, with more than 540,000 expected to suffer from acute malnutrition this year.
Aid efforts remain severely underfunded, with the UN saying only 12 percent of required funding has been secured.
International aid cuts, including from the United States, have further strained relief operations.
The prolonged conflict has battered Myanmar’s economy, once considered among Southeast Asia’s most promising.
The World Bank has projected GDP growth of about 3 percent in the next fiscal year, driven by post-earthquake reconstruction and targeted assistance.
Inflation remains above 20 percent, while electricity shortages have pushed households and businesses toward solar energy.
On the battlefield, the military has regained some territory this year after setbacks in late 2023.
China’s mediation efforts and pressure on armed groups have played a role in slowing opposition advances.
Despite recent gains, analysts say the military still lacks effective control over much of the country.
The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party is expected to dominate the next government, with major opposition parties barred.
Observers say the election is unlikely to significantly alter the trajectory of the war or ease humanitarian suffering.