UN says human rights situation in Myanmar ‘worrying’ World News

The humanitarian and human rights situation in Myanmar has fallen to “appalling levels”, the United Nations said on Friday, condemning the ruling military government for actively blocking the passage of life-saving aid.

The Southeast Asian country has been in turmoil since the military ousted elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a 2021 coup.

Fighting between the junta and the opposition has ravaged large swaths of the country.

Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for the UN human rights office, told a media briefing that the military “continues to place its goals above all other considerations”.

“The overall humanitarian and human rights situation in Myanmar has deteriorated to alarming levels, exacerbated by the military’s strategy to prevent life-saving humanitarian aid from reaching those who desperately need it,” Shamdasani added.

“The military operates as if those providing aid are helping those who oppose their rule, rather than respecting their protection needs and helping them deliver aid to civilians in times of crisis.”

Shamdasani said the restrictions on aid needed in the wake of Cyclone Mocha in May brought “further pain and suffering” to the west and north-west.

Deliberate obstruction or denial of humanitarian assistance may constitute serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, has prepared a report on the situation in Myanmar that will be presented to the Human Rights Council on Wednesday.

The junta has caused thousands of civilian casualties while destroying supplies and infrastructure needed to survive, including food, shelter and medical centres, the report said.

An estimated 1.5 million people were internally displaced and some 60,000 civilian structures were reported burned or destroyed, the report said.

More than 17.6 million people (one third of the population) need some form of humanitarian assistance.

“Between February 2021 and April 2023, credible sources confirm at least 3,452 deaths at the hands of the military and its affiliates,” the report said.

In addition, “21,807 people were arrested and 5,839 were convicted without any judicial guarantees. In addition, 154 people were sentenced to death and 4 people are known to have been executed”.

The Human Rights Council is due to discuss Myanmar next week.