The ongoing war in Myanmar has endured for over 70 years, with the country's 135 ethnic minority groups bearing the brunt of military repression. This has resulted in the displacement of millions, many of whom reside in makeshift camps within Myanmar as internally displaced people.

The sudden spotlight on Burma commenced over two years ago with democratic and economic reforms. In November 2010, Burma held its first elections in 20 years, and the government released pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest. In 2012, Aung San Suu Kyi won a seat in parliament and became the chairperson of the opposition National League for Democracy party. Foreign governments have taken notice of these reforms and eased sanctions on Burma. 

For a country steeped in Buddhism, Myanmar is accruing terrible karmic debts. Alarming news and images of attacks and killings by the Buddhist majority in Rakhine Province against a Muslim minority there have been slowly trickling out onto the Internet and the wider world. Pictures of charred bodies and crying parents have stirred largely unheeded calls for intervention, mostly from Muslim nations.