The political crisis unleashed in Myanmar following the 1 February military coup last year, has \u201copened new frontlines that had long been at peace,\u201d the UN Special Envoy told the General Assembly on Monday, noting that challenges in the country have \u201cboth deepened and expanded dramatically.\u201d<\/P>
Noeleen Heyzer said that since she took up the job six months ago, Myanmar has \u201ccontinued to descend into profound and widespread conflict\u201d.<\/P>
Already one of the world\u2019s largest refugee emergencies, she reminded that multidimensional crises there have left over one million internally displaced people (IDPs) across the country with \u201cserious regional and international ramifications\u201d.<\/P>
Nearly one million mainly Muslim Rohingyas live in refugees camps in neighbouring Bangladesh, and hundreds of thousands of others are scattered across the region.<\/P>
\u2018Disillusioned\u2019 generation This crisis has resulted in collapsing State institutions, disrupting social and economic infrastructure \u2013 including health, education, banking, food security and employment \u2013 while increasing criminality and illicit activities.<\/P>
And over the past five years, the number of people living in poverty has doubled to encompass half the population.<\/P>
\u201cToday, 14.4 million people, or one-quarter of the entire population of Myanmar urgently require humanitarian assistance,\u201d said the Special Envoy.<\/P>
At the same time, following the COVID-19 pandemic and political crisis, school enrolment has dropped by up to 80 per cent in two years, leaving at least 7.8 million children shut out of the classroom.<\/P>
\u201cA generation that benefitted from the democratic transition is now disillusioned, facing chronic hardship and, tragically, many feel they have no choice left but to take up arms,\u201d she warned.<\/P>
Conflict, the norm<\/P>
As military violence and distrust have continued to deepen, including against peaceful protestors, armed conflict \u201chas become the norm\u201d for all Burmese.<\/P>
\u201cThe military continues its disproportionate use of force, has intensified its attack on civilians and increased operations against resistance forces, using aerial bombings,\u201d said the senior UN official. \u201cCivilian buildings and villages have been destroyed by fire and internally displaced populations have been attacked\u201d.<\/P>
Meanwhile, there are reports of up to 600 armed resistance groups, or \u201cpeople\u2019s defense forces\u201d engaged in fighting, with some conducting assassinations targeting those seen as \u201cpro-military\u201d.<\/P>
Feel of abandonment<\/P>
Ms. Heyzer said she was continuing to work closely with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to de-escalate hostilities.<\/P>
However, she pointed out that continued differences, regionally and more broadly among UN Member States, \u201chave left the people of Myanmar feeling abandoned in their time of need.\u201d<\/P>
\u201cI will continue to play a bridging role\u2026in Myanmar, in the region, and the international community to address the protection needs and suffering of the most vulnerable, and to support the will of the people for a future federal democratic union based on peace, stability and shared prosperity.\u201d<\/P>
Remembering the Rohingya<\/P>
Instability and conflict place vulnerable communities at further risk, including the Rohingya.<\/P>
The Special Envoy has developed a multi-track strategy that focuses on humanitarian and protection needs; a return to civilian rule; effective and democratic governance; and durable solutions for the Rohingya \u2013 the majority of whom fled following violent persecution by Government forces in 2017, characterized by the then UN human rights chief as a text-book example of ethnic cleansing.<\/P>
\u201cSustainable solutions for the Rohingya people must be built into the design of a peaceful, inclusive and democratic Myanmar,\u201d she said.<\/P>
\u2018Face of human tragedy\u2019<\/P>
In direct contact with the Burmese people, Ms. Heyzer said: \u201cI have learned the face of human tragedy behind these figures.\u201d<\/P>
Rohingya refugee women shared with her how prolonged camp displacements in Bangladesh and elsewhere, have affected their daily lives and limited opportunities to build skills and livelihoods.<\/P>
They also mentioned that camp shops in Cox\u2019s Bazar and community-run learning centres have shuttered.<\/P>
\u201cWomen also told me of the many protection risks that face women and girls, including trafficking, child marriage and sexual violence\u201d, she stated. \u201cThey described how the lack of accountability has normalized violence against women and girls in the camps.\u201d<\/P>
Durable solutions<\/P>
Ms. Heyzer advocated for \u201cintegrated and inclusive humanitarian, peace and development action\u201d to strengthen rights and support Rohingya.<\/P>
Turning to the Rakhine Advisory Commission, which aims to improve conditions in Rakhine state, from which many Rohingya fled north across the border, she told the General Assembly that she supported their recommendations for changes at both a \u201cvertical\u201d level \u2013 involving the de-facto authorities, pro-democracy actors and the separatist ethnic militia known as the Arakan Army \u2013 and the \u201chorizontal\u201d, such as grassroots initiatives that promote inclusivity, peaceful co-existence, and equality for all.<\/P>
Ultimately, she said, it was \u201cMyanmar\u2019s responsibility\u201d to address these fundamental issues.<\/P>
<\/P>
<\/P>
Source: UN News Service<\/P>
<\/P><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The political crisis unleashed in Myanmar following the 1 February military coup last year, has \u201copened new frontlines that had long been at peace,\u201d the UN Special Envoy told the General Assembly on Monday, noting that challenges in the country have \u201cb…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n