The situation in Myanmar - Press Conference (31 January 2022)

Press Conference by Noeleen Heyzer, the Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Myanmar, on the situation in the country.

The UN Special Envoy on Myanmar told reporters in New York, “One year since the first of February 2021, violence and brutality in Myanmar has only intensified and widened.”

Speaking today (31 Jan) via teleconference from Singapore, the UN Special Envoy Noeleen Heyzer said that by the end of 2021, more than 320,000 people remain internally displaced across the country, and since then the number has reached over 400,000. And this is in addition to the 340,000 people already displaced before February last year”

She added, “Countless people are suffering from devastating socio-economic challenges and humanitarian hardships.” Heyzer noted that half of Myanmar’s population, some 25 million people, now live in poverty. She added,“We are also witnessing an unprecedented level of drug manufacturing and trade. While human trafficking and illegal mining and logging has increased the expansion of illicit activities further fuels the conflicts.”

The Special Envoy also said, “I've called for greater action, including in the Security Council, to help lay down the building blocks to narrow the trust deficit and initiate talks about talks on peace and national unity and democracy. For that to happen, she added, “aerial operations must cease immediately.”

She also said, “We also have to ensure the enabling conducive conditions for voluntary safe and dignified returns for the Rohingya and all communities in Rakhine state, as well as protection for refugees, fleeing Myanmar, and this should be part of our broader efforts to find peaceful political solutions.”

In the interim, she explained, efforts will be strengthen towards temporary solutions and refugee protection in the region in the spirit of international responsibility sharing. In that respect, she applauded the Government of Bangladesh and host communities for the continued generosity.

Finally, the Special Envoy told reporters, “Although the road ahead will be long and difficult, the time to act is now and time is running out.”

Видео The situation in Myanmar - Press Conference (31 January 2022) канала United Nations