54th HRC-UN Human Rights Chief- People of Myanmar endure horrifying attacks 26 September 2023
/
5:16
/
MP4
/
688.3 MB

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

54th HRC-UN Human Rights Chief- People of Myanmar endure horrifying attacks 26 September 2023

The report before the Council today, which covers the period from 1 April 2022 and 31 July 2023, unveils how the military has further expanded its assault against the civilian population.

“We are faced here with a system of ruthless repression designed to coerce and subjugate its people and to erode a society so that the narrow interests of a kleptocratic elite are preserved. Senseless military attacks are exacerbating the human rights crisis with interconnected humanitarian, political, and economic impacts, imposing an unbearable toll on the people in Myanmar,” Türk said.

“Credible sources have verified as of yesterday a minimum of 1,108 deaths at the hands of the military and its affiliates. Three specific military tactics have been systematically directed against the civilian population: airstrikes, mass killings, and burning of villages. During the reporting period, the military undertook 687 airstrikes, more than double the number carried out in the 14 months following the coup,” said the High Commissioner.

“Ground operations have resulted in 22 documented incidents of mass killings of 10 or more individuals. Testimonies indicate that in many of these operations, soldiers entered villages, rounded up those who had not fled, and executed them. They used appalling methods to inflict unimaginable pain on their victims, including burning them alive, dismembering, raping, beheading, bludgeoning, and using abducted villagers to shield themselves against attacks and landmines. This is inhumanity in its vilest form,” he said.

The High Commissioner described the burning of entire villages and civilian infrastructure continues to terrorize the population, especially - but not only - in the central region of Sagaing. Over 75,000 structures, including homes, food storage facilities, seed banks and livestock have been destroyed, driving the ongoing displacement crisis, and dramatically increasing humanitarian and protection needs, including for those particularly at risk such as women, children, older people, and people with disabilities.

The restriction on humanitarian access following the destruction caused by Cyclone Mocha in May this year is a clear example of how the military is prioritizing its own political interests over the wellbeing of a population in dire need of life-saving assistance.

“Denial of humanitarian access throughout the whole country is having dramatic consequences on the right to food. Rice especially -- a staple for Myanmar people -- is becoming extremely limited in many regions. This denial of access has been acutely felt in Rakhine State where the human rights situation of the Rohingya community continues to be of the utmost concern, particularly for women, children and young people. Since Cyclone Mocha made landfall in May, the military has systematically prevented the provision of life-saving medical care, shelter materials, food and clean water. Rohingya families and members of other displaced communities have reported not being able to provide food to their children,” Türk said.

Despite this, since March, “the military has been proposing to carry out the return of thousands of Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to Rakhine State by the end of the year, despite the clear absence of conditions for safe, dignified, and sustainable returns. Notably, no action has been taken to address the root causes of discrimination and other violations, to address the issue of citizenship, to ensure provision of services, or to guarantee free movement or other critical factors,” he said.

The High Commissioner called on all States and other actors with influence to support efforts to de-escalate this crisis and ensure that all vulnerable people in Myanmar can exercise their fundamental rights and receive all necessary assistance.

“Its clear that new thinking on Myanmar is needed - urgently - for this unspeakable tragedy to end,” Türk said.

“Given the continuing gravity of the situation and impunity on the ground, I reiterate my call for the UN Security Council to refer this situation to the International Criminal Court.

People in Myanmar have long suffered with insufficient attention being paid by the international community to their plight. That must change,” he said.

ENDS

The High Commissioner’s report, which covers the period between 1 April 2022 and 31 July 2023, is now online.

For more information and media requests, please contact:

In Geneva

Ravina Shamdasani - + 41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org or

Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org or

Jeremy Laurence + +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org or

Marta Hurtado - + 41 22 917 9466 / marta.hurtadogomez@un.org

Tag and share

Twitter @UNHumanRights

Facebook unitednationshumanrights

Instagram @unitednationshumanrights

  1. Exterior shot: Palais des Nations, Geneva.
  2. Wide shot: wide shot room 20
  3. Soundbite (English)— Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR):Each day, the people of Myanmar are enduring horrifying attacks, flagrant human rights violations and the crumbling of their livelihoods and hopes.
  4. Cut away: room 20
  5. Soundbite (English)— Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR):We are faced here with a system of ruthless repression designed to coerce and subjugate its people and to erode a society so that the narrow interests of a kleptocratic elite are preserved. Senseless military attacks are exacerbating the human rights crisis with interconnected humanitarian, political, and economic impacts, imposing an unbearable toll on the people in Myanmar.”
  6. Cut away: room 20.
  7. Soundbite (English)— Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR):Credible sources have verified as of yesterday a minimum of 1,108 deaths at the hands of the military and its affiliates. Three specific military tactics have been systematically directed against the civilian population: airstrikes, mass killings, and burning of villages. During the reporting period, the military undertook 687 airstrikes, more than double the number carried out in the 14 months following the coup.”
  8. Cut away: room 20.
  9. Soundbite (English)— Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR):Ground operations have resulted in 22 documented incidents of mass killings of 10 or more individuals. Testimonies indicate that in many of these operations, soldiers entered villages, rounded up those who had not fled, and executed them. They used appalling methods to inflict unimaginable pain on their victims, including burning them alive, dismembering, raping, beheading, bludgeoning, and using abducted villagers to shield themselves against attacks and landmines. This is inhumanity in its vilest form.”
  10. Cut away: room 20.
  11. Soundbite (English)— Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR):Denial of humanitarian access throughout the whole country is having dramatic consequences on the right to food. Rice especially -- a staple for Myanmar people -- is becoming extremely limited in many regions. This denial of access has been acutely felt in Rakhine State where the human rights situation of the Rohingya community continues to be of the utmost concern, particularly for women, children and young people. Since Cyclone Mocha made landfall in May, the military has systematically prevented the provision of life-saving medical care, shelter materials, food and clean water. Rohingya families and members of other displaced communities have reported not being able to provide food to their children.”
  12. Cut away: room 20.
  13. Soundbite (English)— Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR): “…the military has been proposing to carry out the return of thousands of Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to Rakhine State by the end of the year, despite the clear absence of conditions for safe, dignified, and sustainable returns. Notably, no action has been taken to address the root causes of discrimination and other violations, to address the issue of citizenship, to ensure provision of services, or to guarantee free movement or other critical factors.”
  14. Cut away: room 20.
  15. Soundbite (English)— Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR):It’s clear that new thinking on Myanmar is needed - urgently - for this unspeakable tragedy to end.”
  16. Cut away: room 20.
  17. Soundbite (English)— Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, (OHCHR): “Given the continuing gravity of the situation and impunity on the ground, I reiterate my call for the UN Security Council to refer this situation to the International Criminal Court. People in Myanmar have long suffered with insufficient attention being paid by the international community to their plight. That must change.”
  18. Cut away: room 20.
  19. Extract of satellite pictures analysis from UN Human Rights report (online).

Similar Stories

Funding cuts impact on aid access - UNHCR Dominique Hyde - 18 July 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNHCR , UNOG

Funding cuts impact on aid access - UNHCR Dominique Hyde - 18 July 2025 ENG FRA

Over 11.6 million refugees risk losing aid access due to funding cuts, says UNHCR

Approximately one in three refugees and other vulnerable individuals normally supported by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) are expected to lose out from funding cuts, it said on Friday.

UN Human Rights Ravina Shamdasani on opening mission in Bangladesh

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Ravina Shamdasani on opening mission in Bangladesh ENG FRA

Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, made the following announcement on the Office’s opening of a new mission in Bangladesh.

UN Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on returns of Afghans

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on returns of Afghans ENG FRA

The surge in the number of Afghans forced or compelled to return to Afghanistan this year is creating a multi-layered human rights crisis requiring the urgent attention of the international community,” UN Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said on Friday.  

UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on violence in Suweida, Syria

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on violence in Suweida, Syria ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Friday called for accountability and justice for the killings and other gross human rights violations and abuses in the southern city of Suweida. 

Syria Sweida violence OHCHR – UNHCR 18 July 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNHCR

Syria Sweida violence OHCHR – UNHCR 18 July 2025 ENG FRA

Syria: hundreds killed in Sweida, ‘widespread’ violations as civilians flee for their lives

Amid violent clashes in southern Syria’s Sweida governorate, a picture of grave human rights abuses and rising humanitarian needs is emerging by the hour, the UN said on Friday.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Liz Throssell on Ukraine

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Liz Throssell on Ukraine ENG

At the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva the UN Human Rights Spokesperson Liz Throssell made the following statement on the latest number of civilian casualties in Ukraine.

UN Human Rights Briefing on West Bank

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Briefing on West Bank ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights Office on Tuesday called for investigations into hundreds of killings of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank by Israeli security forces and settlers, warning against ongoing forced mass displacement of the Palestinian population.

Gaza And Occupied West Bank Update - OHCHR, UNRWA  15 July 2025

1

1

2

Edited News | OHCHR , UNRWA

Gaza And Occupied West Bank Update - OHCHR, UNRWA 15 July 2025 ENG FRA

Nearly 900 people have been killed in Gaza in recent weeks trying to fetch food, with most deaths linked to private aid hubs run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Tuesday.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on escalating gang violence  in Haiti

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on escalating gang violence in Haiti ENG FRA

The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and the UN Human Rights Office have today released a report detailing the evolution of violent gang incidents beyond the capital Port-au-Prince since October 2024 up to June 2025, and the resulting loss of life and mass displacement. 

Gaza Deir Al Balah killings OHCHR - WHO 11 July 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , OHCHR

Gaza Deir Al Balah killings OHCHR - WHO 11 July 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza: ‘Unacceptable’ choice between getting shot or getting fed – UN humanitarians 

Following the deaths of several children in an Israeli strike on Palestinians waiting in line for nutritional supplements in central Gaza on Thursday, UN humanitarians have once again condemned the killings of people at aid distribution sites in the enclave. 

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on recent violence in Kenya

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on recent violence in Kenya ENG FRA

At the United Nations bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva, Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights made the following comments on the recent violence in Kenya.

US tariffs impact - ITC

1

1

1

Edited News | ITC

US tariffs impact - ITC ENG FRA

US tariffs uncertainty hurts world economy, with poorest countries hit hardest – top UN economist

A new US decision to further delay the end of a 90-day pause on tariffs is bad for business, a top UN economist said on Tuesday.