UN envoy says violence puts Myanmar on 'path to self-destruction'
The UN's special envoy for Myanmar has condemned the continuing violence across the country, even after the devastating earthquake that struck in March. She warned that the conflict is embedding a "crisis within a crisis."
Julie Bishop, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar, spoke to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday in New York. She said the scale of the conflict has increased over the four years since the military takeover in 2021.
A major earthquake rocked central Myanmar in March. The military says the quake has left more than 3,700 people dead and over 5,000 injured. The junta and pro-democracy forces declared a temporary ceasefire to prioritize relief efforts.
Bishop pointed out, however, that the ceasefire has largely not been observed. She said, "If there is no end to the violence, Myanmar is on a path to self-destruction."
Bishop also cited the dire situation of the Muslim minority Rohingya population in the western state of Rakhine. She said they are subject to forced recruitment and other abuse, and called for urgent international support.
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