The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has delivered a grave warning about the deteriorating human rights situation in Myanmar, describing it as one of the worst in the world. Addressing the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Türk highlighted the widespread suffering caused by conflict, economic collapse, and military violence.
The military’s ongoing conflict with armed resistance groups has led to a record number of civilian casualties since the military coup in 2021. At least 1,824 people were killed in 2024 alone, including 531 women and 248 children, although the real numbers are believed to be much higher. Indiscriminate airstrikes, artillery shelling, and targeted attacks on civilian areas—including schools, hospitals, and places of worship—have caused mass displacement and suffering.
Türk condemned the military’s brutal tactics, which include executions, torture, and the use of human shields. Soldiers have attacked villages where no fighting was taking place, and reports indicate that in October 2024, the military burned 1,000 homes and killed at least 25 civilians in Budalin Township in a single day. Additionally, nearly 2,000 people have died in custody since the coup, many as a result of torture and summary executions.
The humanitarian crisis in Myanmar has reached catastrophic levels. Over 3.5 million people have been displaced, and 20 million require urgent humanitarian assistance. Hunger is worsening, with 15 million people facing food insecurity, and up to two million at risk of famine. Food production in Rakhine State is expected to meet only 20% of local needs by mid-2025, exacerbating fears of widespread starvation.
Economic conditions have also deteriorated dramatically. Since the coup, Myanmar’s GDP has contracted by 17%, and inflation is projected to reach 30% this year. The country has become a global hub for organized crime, including human trafficking and drug production.
Türk expressed deep concern over the renewed violence in Rakhine State, where intense fighting between the military and the Arakan Army has reportedly killed thousands of civilians. The Rohingya population remains particularly vulnerable, caught between warring factions and subjected to targeted violence. In one incident in January, at least 40 civilians were killed, and 500 homes burned in Kyauk Ni Maw village.
Tens of thousands of Rohingya have fled Myanmar, with an 80% increase in those escaping by sea in 2024 compared to the previous year. At least 650 Rohingya, nearly half of them children, died at sea last year.
The UN High Commissioner urged the international community to take stronger measures against Myanmar’s military regime. He reiterated calls for an arms embargo and targeted sanctions, including restrictions on jet fuel and dual-use goods. Türk also stressed the need for alternative strategies to deliver humanitarian aid, particularly across borders.
Legal actions are underway at various international courts. The International Criminal Court has sought an arrest warrant for Myanmar’s military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, over crimes against humanity. The International Court of Justice continues to hear the genocide case brought by The Gambia, and an Argentinian court has issued an arrest warrant against top military officials for the 2017 Rohingya crackdown.
Türk called on ASEAN and influential nations to step up diplomatic efforts to end the crisis, urging an inclusive political process involving the National Unity Government, ethnic armed groups, and civil society representatives.
As Myanmar’s crisis deepens, Türk warned that failure to act would have dire consequences not only for the country but for regional stability. He urged the international community to prioritize Myanmar, providing both humanitarian aid and political support to end the military’s reign of terror and restore democracy.
