Photo Essay: Life on the margins in Yangon’s slums

*Swe Swe comes from a family of 10, with four younger siblings. Her parents are often absent, spending their days searching the city’s trash for plastic scraps to support the family. She dropped out of school at age 13 to take care of her younger siblings and her 65-year-old grandmother, who struggles with poor eyesight. Photo: Kan Kaung/ Myanmar Now

Myanmar’s economy, already battered by COVID-19, has plunged further into crisis since the 2021 coup, hitting low-income families the hardest. With wages falling, jobs scarce, and inflation driving up the cost of essentials, many are struggling to afford basic nutrition, leading to worsening health conditions and reliance on home remedies.A January World Food Programme (WFP) report projects that nearly 15 million people in Myanmar will face hunger this year. The following photos document the struggles of low-income families in South Dagon and Hlaing Tharyar townships on the outskirts of Yangon.*Names have been changed to protect the identities and privacy of those featured in this photo essay

Photo: Kan Kaung/ Myanmar Now

*Swe Swe comes from a family of. . .

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Kan KaungFebruary 12, 2025

Photo Essay: Life on the margins in Yangon’s slums

As the economic crisis deepens, millions of people in Myanmar are facing hunger, with nearly 15 million projected to be at risk this year

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