UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called on Myanmars military to relinquish power to allow a return to civilian rule through an inclusive democratic transition, as the Southeast country marks four years since the junta seized power.

Following the coup, President Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi were detained and the country was plunged into a humanitarian and human rights crisis that has only worsened amid an intensifying civil conflict.

“Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemns all forms of violence and calls on all parties to the conflict to exercise maximum restraint, uphold human rights and international humanitarian law, and prevent further incitement of violence and inter-communal tensions”, UN Spokesperson Stphane Dujarric said in statement.

The situation in Myanmar is in freefall, with nearly 20 million people a third of the population expected to need humanitarian aid this year. Hunger has reached alarming levels, with 15 million people projected to face acute food insecurity in 2025, up from 13.3 million last year.

“The cost of basic food staples has risen by 30 per cent in the past year due to soaring inflation and supply chain disruptions caused by conflict. Even if some food is available in local markets, people simply don’t have the resources to buy the basics, which means they are eating less and going hungry”, said Michael Dunford, UN World Food Programme (WFP) Representative in Myanmar.

Fighting between junta forces and opposition armed groups marked by indiscriminate aerial bombardments, village burnings, and executions has displaced over 3.5 million people within the country. Many others have fled across borders seeking safety, particularly in Thailand and Bangladesh. Those in conflict-affected areas, including Chin, Kachin, Rakhine and Sagaing regions, are suffering the worst levels of food insecurity. The collapse of Myanmar’s economy, combined with access restrictions and disasters, has left communities on the brink.

Secretary General Guterres also expressed concerns over the military’s plan to hold elections.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2025