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

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 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 Her parents earn an average of 30,000 kyat per day ($15 US dollars). But their income is inconsistent, some days bringing in much less than that amount. Photo: Kan Kaung/ Myanmar Now The grandmother once worked as a street vendor, selling whatever items she could find, but she had to give up her job as her eyes started to worsen. Due to high travel costs, long wait-times, and confusion about how to register at a public hospital, the family was unable to see a doctor for treatment. Photo: Kan Kaung/ Myanmar Now In Myanmar’s slum communities, many young children are deprived of basic care and health services. Photo: Kan Kaung/ Myanmar Now *San Aung is one of eight family members struggling to make ends meet. He works the night shift as a security guard at a factory. He earns roughly 200,000 kyat a month ($100 US dollars), which was once enough to support the eight-member household. But today, his salary is no longer sufficient, forcing the family to sometimes forage for wild vegetables to eat or sell. Photo: Kan Kaung/ Myanmar Now San Aung has six children, but he’s only been able to send one daughter to school. Having such a low income makes it difficult to meet basic needs, he says, but he hopes his daughter will succeed in her studies. Photo: Kan Kaung/ Myanmar Now The family doesn't have a toilet of their own and must ask a neighbor for permission to use theirs. They hope to build their own toilet by the summer. Photo: Kan Kaung/ Myanmar Now *Chit Po is a pregnant mother of four. Struggling with rising prices, she can no longer afford the nutritious foods needed for her pregnancy after recently losing her husband. Despite the financial hardship, she remains thankful for having enough to eat. Photo: Kan Kaung/ Myanmar Now

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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