The UN Security Council (UNSG), except China and Russia, has condemned the Myanmar military killing civilians and continuing airstrikes, reaffirming the need to respect international law, protect civilians and provide humanitarian aid.
The joint statement of the Security Council was released on 23 August after its closed consultations to discuss the situation in Myanmar, and hearing briefings from Under-Secretary-General Martin Griffiths following his visit to Myanmar and Assistant Secretary-General Khiari for an update on efforts to resolve the crisis.
The statement said that more than two and a half years after the state of emergency imposed by the military in Myanmar on 1 February 2021, the UNSG remains deeply concerned at the situation in Myanmar and its impact on the people of Myanmar.
The statement includes the following:
“The last months have seen unrelenting violence across Myanmar. We strongly condemn the killing of civilians and in particular the continued use of air strikes, and reaffirm the need to respect international law and protect civilians.
“Over 18 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Myanmar; 2 million are displaced; and over 15 million people are food insecure. We reiterate the call this Council has repeatedly made on the need for full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all people in need, including to ensure aid reaches those most vulnerable, including ethnic and other minority populations.
“We remain deeply concerned about the situation in Rakhine State. It has been six years since nearly a million Rohingya were forced to flee their homes in Myanmar. We encourage international partners to support the provision of humanitarian assistance to displaced Rohingya. We express our support for diplomatic efforts to create conditions conducive to the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of Rohingya to their homeland. We urge Myanmar to address the fundamental causes of the crisis and restore the rights of Rohingya.
“The Council set out its expectations clearly in UN Security Council Resolution 2669, including: for the immediate release of all arbitrarily detained prisoners, including President Win Myint and State
Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi; on the need to fully respect human rights and uphold the rule of law; on respect for the democratic will of the people of Myanmar; on the swift and full implementation of ASEAN’s Five Point Consensus; on the need to address the root causes of the crisis in Rakhine State; and for the rights of persons belonging to minorities to be fully protected. We note with concern that there has been insufficient progress against these calls.
“We reiterate our strong support to ASEAN and the efforts of the ASEAN Chair, and call again on the Myanmar military to take concrete and immediate actions to effectively and fully implement the Five Point Consensus.
“In closing, we call again for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2669 and underline our commitment to using all tools at the Council’s disposal to support ASEAN’s efforts to find a peaceful solution to the crisis. We reaffirm our strong support for the people of Myanmar.”
