On July 15, nearly 40 member states of the United Nations and the European Union issued a joint statement expressing concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Burma, also known as Myanmar. The statement was presented at a press conference by U.S. Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs at the U.N., Robert Wood.
On February 1, 2021, the Burmese military overthrew the country’s democratically elected civilian government in a coup. Since then, the military junta has been using increasingly violent methods to repress its own people.
The most brutal treatment has been reserved for ethnic minorities, particularly the Rohingya people, who make their home in Burma’s Rakhine State.
“We are deeply concerned by the escalation of violence and conflict and credible reports of violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law across Myanmar that are deepening the humanitarian crisis,” said Ambassador Wood.
“Recent reports indicate the Myanmar regime has taken deliberate steps in Rakhine State to use internally displaced persons, many of whom are Rohingya, as human shields amid the conflict. We are particularly concerned by reports indicating the regime has placed landmines around IDP [Internally Displaced Persons] camps and appears to have taken steps to use these camps as military bases,” he said. “There are also credible reports of forced recruitment of persons, including children, belonging to ethnic minorities by the Myanmar Armed Forces in particular and other parties, which risk further fueling inter-communal tensions and aggravating the humanitarian situation.”
“These concerning developments follow a range of reports of other violations and abuses, particularly by the Myanmar Armed Forces, including indiscriminate aerial bombardments of civilians and civilian objects, burning of civilian homes, attacks on humanitarian workers and facilities, and restrictions on humanitarian access,” said Ambassador Wood. “These practices are unacceptable.”
“Since the regime’s violent military coup in February 2021 and attack on the Myanmar population, the number of people in humanitarian need has risen from 1 million to 18.6 million,” he said. “More than 2.9 million have been newly displaced, including 66,000 people who have sought protection in neighboring countries, adding to the more than 1 million Rohingya refugees who fled before the coup.”
“We urge the Myanmar Armed Forces in particular and all parties concerned in Myanmar to de-escalate violence, respect international humanitarian law and human rights law, and to protect civilians,” said Ambassador Wood. “We reiterate calls to engage in constructive and inclusive dialogue to find a peaceful solution to the situation in Myanmar.”
