The Ethnic Minorities of Burma
Burma is one of the most ethnically diverse nations in the world. Besides the majority Burman people, the borders of Burma are home to 135 ethnic minority groups.
Decades of persecution by the Burmese government upon these ethnic minority groups eventually led to civil war between the Burmese military and these indigenous peoples in 1948.
This is currently the world’s longest ongoing civil war. Tens of thousands of people have been forced to take refuge on the Thai-Burmese border. This year, escalating conflicts since the military coup on February 1st, 2021 has led to further displacement of these ethnic groups.
About 150,000 people remain in the refugee camps today.
