This report attempts to describe the ability of poor vulnerable households in selected areas in Myanmar in meeting their basic food needs1 during the month of January 2008. It follows the monthly periodic reports produced by the Vulnerability Analysis & Mapping (VAM) unit in WFP Yangon....Highlights January 2008 ¾ Rice price increases up to 37% in Maungdaw forces many NRS households to adopt negative coping strategies. There is anecdotal evidence of out migration to Bangladesh. Increasing indebtedness early in the year could jeopardize future availability of credit. Covering basic rice needs costs between 70-87% more than last year in January ?07. There is a need to closely monitor the situation in upcoming months ¾ Households in remote areas in Lashio (Man Tone and Mon Koe areas) and Taunggyi (Bikin) continue to face difficulties in covering their rice needs, often spending up to 100% or more of their expenditures only on food. ¾ Households in Kokang and Lashio fare better in terms of meeting their basic rice needs in January primarily due to increased employment opportunities and lower rice prices. ¾ Households in Yenanchaung faced withincreases in rice prices and scarce employment opportunities experienced a downward trend in their ability to meet their rice needs. This report includes three additional areas where market information is being collected, namely, Kachin State where WFP has just started new operations, Yangon and Mandalay urban markets....