The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has urgently alerted the global community about the rapidly worsening human rights crisis in Myanmar, labelling it among the most severe in the world. Speaking at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, he shed light on the extensive anguish inflicted by relentless conflict, crippling economic collapse, and persistent military aggression.
Since the military coup in 2021, a devastating conflict with armed resistance groups has resulted in staggering civilian casualties. In 2024 alone, at least 1,824 lives were lost, including notable numbers of women and children, although the true extent of the tragedy remains concealed. Indiscriminate airstrikes and targeted assaults on schools and hospitals have triggered mass displacements and deepened suffering across the land.
Türk condemned the military’s horrifying tactics, which encompass executions, torture, and unlawful military strategies, including the use of human shields. Reports indicate a horrific incident in Budalin Township where the military razed over a thousand homes and took the lives of at least 25 civilians in just one day. Since the coup, nearly 2,000 individuals died in custody, many succumbing to torture or summary execution.
The humanitarian situation has spiralled into a catastrophic crisis, with over 3.5 million people displaced and a staggering 20 million in urgent need of assistance. Hunger looms ominously, with 15 million people facing food insecurity and two million at risk of famine. The forecast for food production in Rakhine State is grim, meeting merely 20% of local needs by mid-2025, intensifying fears of starvation.
The country’s economic state has plummeted dramatically, with GDP contracting by 17% and inflation projected to soar to 30% this year. Myanmar has morphed into a haven for organised crime, rife with human trafficking and drug production. Türk expressed alarm over escalating violence in Rakhine State, where intense clashes have claimed thousands of civilian lives, leaving the Rohingya population particularly vulnerable amid the chaos.
In 2024, tens of thousands of Rohingya have fled Myanmar, with an alarming 80% increase in those desperate enough to escape by sea, resulting in the tragic loss of nearly 650 lives, many of whom were children. Türk implored the international community to adopt more stringent measures against Myanmar’s military regime, demanding an arms embargo and targeted sanctions to curb their brutality.
International legal proceedings are advancing, with the International Criminal Court pursuing an arrest warrant for military leader Min Aung Hlaing concerning crimes against humanity. Concurrently, the International Court of Justice is examining the genocide case instigated by The Gambia, while an Argentinian court has also issued an arrest warrant for top military officials involved in the Rohingya crisis.
Türk called upon ASEAN and other influential nations to intensify diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis, advocating for an inclusive political process that engages the National Unity Government, ethnic armed groups, and civil society. As the situation in Myanmar intensifies, Türk underscored that inaction would threaten not just Myanmar’s future but also regional stability, highlighting the necessity for humanitarian aid and support to reinstate democracy.
Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has highlighted a critical human rights situation in Myanmar, exacerbated by military violence and economic collapse. With thousands of civilian casualties and millions displaced, the humanitarian crisis is severe, prompting calls for international intervention. Türk urges global actions, including sanctions and a political dialogue involving all stakeholders, to address the escalating violence and restore democracy.
The dire situation in Myanmar demands urgent action from the international community. High Commissioner Türk’s stark warnings illuminate the catastrophic humanitarian and human rights crisis the nation faces. With escalating violence, economic collapse, and widespread suffering, it is imperative for the global community to rally in support of effective measures that address the indiscriminate violence and humanitarian needs, ensuring a brighter future for Myanmar’s citizens.
Original Source: slguardian.org
