Mizzima
The Ministry of International Cooperation under the National Unity Government (NUG) has denounced Myanmar military’s aid manipulation, and called for a response from international community with diplomatic pressure and targeted sanctions against the regime.
The NUG’s denouncement on 9 June said that robust humanitarian assistance are necessary to hold the junta accountable and alleviate the immense suffering as the people of Myanmar who deserve support and solidarity.
The NUG also condemned the junta’s use of aid as weapons and obstruction of critical assistance, along with the catastrophic impact of Cyclone Mocha, ongoing genocidal campaigns, particularly against ethnic minorities like the Rohingya, violating international humanitarian laws.
The directive of the Coordination Committee under the Office of the Rakhine State government went viral online, ordering restrictions on travelling and the provision of relief aid of international organizations and local and foreign humanitarian and civil society organizations.
The directive was reportedly signed by Rakhine State government’s Security and Border Affairs Minister Colone Kyaw Thura, with the effective date of 7 June.
A spokesperson of a civil society organization in Rakhine state said to Mizzima, “The local government sent a letter on travel restrictions of civil society organizations. If we could not deliver humanitarian assistance to some areas in two or three weeks, people in these areas will die from starvation.”
Some experts remarked that the military issued this directive as they could not make deals with the United League of Arakan/ Arakan Army, the Myanmar National Truth and Justice Party/Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNTJP/MNDAA) and the Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta’ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA) during the meeting in Mongla, eastern Shan State, on 1 June.
On 6 June, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, Permanent Representative of Myanmar to the UN, made a speech at the Plenary of the High-Level Meeting on the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, saying that Myanmar military is carrying out the ‘four cuts’ strategy, including hinderance to the delivery of humanitarian assistance to all people in need, especially those in conflict affected areas.
The ambassador also reiterated the need to integrate the implementation of the Sendai Framework as part of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
He also said that Cyclone Mocha has badly affected people, with the immediate need of humanitarian assistance, including shelter, food and medicine and the restoration of communication networks and transportation.
