Mizzima-May 29
On 26 May, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released a comprehensive report ahead of an upcoming session of the Human Rights Council. The report calls attention to the worsening situation in the wake of the 2021 coup. In the years since, military forces have targeted civilian populations with airstrikes, artillery bombardments and other forms of violence, while anti-military armed groups have gained ground, particularly in Rakhine state. “The country has endured an increasingly catastrophic human rights crisis marked by unabated violence and atrocities that have affected every single aspect of life,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. The report documents a grim toll: military operations killed more civilians in 2024 than in any previous year since the coup. In Rakhine, the Arakan Army seized control of most of the state, displacing tens of thousands, while Rohingya civilians were caught between warring factions, facing killings, torture, arbitrary arrests and widespread destruction of villages. Some Rohingya armed groups have also been drawn into the conflict, according to reports.
The escalating violence has had a cascading effect on Myanmar’s economy, worsening already dire humanitarian conditions. Myanmar’s economy has lost an estimated $93.9 billion since the coup, with the gross domestic product (GDP) not expected to recover to pre-pandemic levels before 2028.
Inflation has surged, the kyat has lost 40 per cent of its value, and over half the population now lives below the poverty line, facing food insecurity and soaring prices. The March earthquakes further exacerbated the crisis, leaving thousands more displaced, homeless and without basic services.
The report urged a multifaceted response to the crisis, including urgent humanitarian support, cross-border aid for displaced populations and increased political engagement with Myanmar’s democratic forces and emerging governance structures. It also emphasized the need for accountability through international justice mechanisms, including a referral of the situation to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Read more at: https://eng.mizzima.com/2025/05/29/22827
