By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Wednesday told reporters in New York that the UN is deeply concerned over the situation of civilians caught up in Myanmar’s devastating and continuing conflict between the military regime and opposition armed groups.
He noted that the fighting intensifies and civilians are vulnerable, with increasing attacks on infrastructure.
UN reported an air strike hit a monastery in Sagan Township in Sagaing Region on 11 July, killing 22 people and injuring at least 50 others.
The monastery had been providing shelter to displaced people who had fled nearby villages.
A displacement camp in North Shan State was also reportedly hit by an airstrike over the weekend.
Mr. Dujarric said that “These incidents are part of a broader pattern of attacks affecting people across Myanmar,” with frequent reports of people being killed, injured or displaced by violence.
He added that such insecurity also impacts the ability of humanitarian teams to reach people in need: with one in three people now facing acute hunger, and the current monsoon season having caused flooding, “the UN urgently calls on all parties to respect human rights and international humanitarian law,”.
