The United Nations on Tuesday expressed grave concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Myanmar. The organization condemned scenes reminiscent of the 2017 atrocities against the Rohingya minority, saying some countries considered it genocide.
Myanmar’s military has imposed a blockade on Rakhine state, where it is battling ethnic militants in a multi-front civil war. The country has been in deep crisis since a 2021 military coup ousted a democratic government. UN human rights chief Volker Turk warned that Arakan Army rebels and other ethnic militants were “repeating violations with almost complete impunity that are driving the civilian population into an endless cycle of suffering.”
“The videos and images show a reality of death, destruction and despair, which is exactly the same as the scenes of atrocities committed by the military against the Rohingya minority in 2017,” he said in a statement. Turk reiterated his call for the UN Security Council to refer the situation to the International Criminal Court, saying, “I am deeply pained to see the same situation again.”
Millions of Rohingya, a mostly Muslim community persecuted in Myanmar for decades, were forced to flee the country during a 2017 military crackdown that is currently under consideration by the United Nations genocide court.
Reckless Attack
The report prepared by the Turkish office on the situation from April 2024 to May 2025 highlights the fact that the conflict in Rakhine has displaced millions of people. According to UN estimates, about 150,000 of them have fled to Bangladesh since November 2023. Bangladesh is already home to about one million Rohingya refugees.
“The Rohingya and other ethnic Rakhine civilians have been the direct victims of the hostilities,” Turk said. He specifically pointed to “a widespread and systematic pattern of indiscriminate attacks by the military against civilians and protected areas.” The report, citing reliable sources, said 1,811 verified civilian deaths were reported in the 14 months covered by the conflict.
Nearly half of those deaths were caused by military airstrikes on schools. The report said the state was plagued by “forced displacement, forced recruitment, disappearances, arbitrary arrests, arson and destruction of property.” Turk also said civilians were facing denial of humanitarian assistance and frequent acts of terrorism.
The report also highlighted abuses by the Arakan Army in northern Rakhine, including killings, forced recruitment and forced displacement. However, it also noted a “relatively low level of violence against the Rohingya” since the beginning of the year. However, the ongoing military blockade has exacerbated the acute hunger crisis as supplies are cut off. Turk urged the country to join international efforts to hold those responsible for abuses accountable and facilitate humanitarian assistance. RSS/AFP
