Global Courant
GENEVA — Myanmar’s military rulers’ restrictions on life-saving aid are increasing and could amount to war crimes such as degrading treatment, starvation and collective punishment, a United Nations (UN) human rights report said on Friday.
The UN rights chief’s report says that since the February 2021 coup, the military has established a “comprehensive control system”, adding that urgent steps are needed to meet people’s basic needs and rights.
Soldiers have attacked medical facilities, burned food supplies, destroyed wells and even killed three displaced people as they tried to return to their villages to grow food.
Up to 40 aid workers have been killed in the country since the coup, some of whom were deliberately targeted, it said.
“In the context of armed conflict, the deliberate obstruction or refusal of humanitarian aid may constitute war crimes, such as intentional killing, torture and other degrading treatment, starvation and collective punishment.”
A Myanmar army spokesman was not immediately available for comment. The junta has denied targeting civilians and says its operations target “terrorists” seeking to destabilize the country.
Overall, the UN report said at least 3,452 people had been killed at the hands of the military and its affiliates, and 21,807 individuals had been arrested since the military takeover through April 2023, citing “credible sources”.
“Responders are consistently exposed to the risk of arrest, harassment or other forms of ill-treatment, or even death,” UN human rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told a press briefing.
About 17 million people in the country, or about a third of the population, need help, the UN says.
The UN humanitarian office says agencies still lack approval to provide direct aid to those affected by Cyclone Mocha, which hit parts of the country in May.
Mr. James Rodehaver, head of the Myanmar team, said at the same briefing: “They (the military leaders) are trying to sell a climate of fear to dissuade the vast majority of citizens from providing any form of support to the armed groups, or to essentially frighten them into supporting or at least accepting the military as the rulers of the country.” REUTERS
