The Daily Star, Bangladesh: July 2, 2023

Myanmar military's denial of humanitarian assistance mayamount to gross violations of international human rights law, and seriousviolations of international humanitarian law, said a report published by the UNHuman Rights Office.

It said Myanmar's overall humanitarian and human rightssituation has deteriorated to alarming levels, exacerbated by the military'sstrategy to prevent life-saving humanitarian aid from reaching those whodesperately need it.

The UN Human Rights chief will present the report to theHuman Rights Council on July 5.

Since February 1, 2021, UN Human Rights has documented howthe military continues to prioritise its aims over all other considerations,including the urgent need for conflict-affected communities to receive life-savingassistance.

"Even when humanitarian workers have been permittedaccess, their ability to deliver aid has been strictly limited andcontrolled," said the report published on Friday.

It said the military has operated as if those providing aidare helping those opposed to their rule, rather than respecting their need forprotection and facilitating their access and assistance to the civilianpopulation in a time of crisis.

The already dire situation on the ground has been compoundedby the military's restrictions on aid imposed in the aftermath of Cyclone Mochain May, bringing further suffering and misery to wide swathes of the populationin the west and northwest of the country.

Aiming in part at cutting off support for its opponents, themilitary has employed its four-cuts strategy to kill and injure thousands ofcivilians while destroying goods and infrastructure necessary for survival,including food, shelter, and medical centres, the report says.

Myanmar's human rights and humanitarian crisis is massive.An estimated 1.5 million people have been internally displaced, andapproximately 60,000 civilian structures have reportedly been burnt ordestroyed.

Over 17.6 million people, or one-third of the overallpopulation, require some form of humanitarian assistance, according to the UNHuman Rights Office.

Between February 2021 and April 2023, credible sourcesverified that at least 3,452 people had died at the hands of the military andits affiliates, and 21,807 individuals had been arrested.

Notably, the report says the security situation hasdramatically worsened for humanitarian workers since the coup. Aid providersare consistently exposed to risks of arrest, harassment or other mistreatment,or even death.

Under international human rights law and internationalhumanitarian law, populations-in-need are entitled to receive assistance toensure the respect of their rights to food, shelter, and health. All partiesmust allow and facilitate unimpeded passage of life-saving relief to all thosein need".

"In the context of armed conflicts, intentionalobstruction or denial of humanitarian assistance may further constitute warcrimes such as willful killing, torture and other degrading treatment,starvation, and collective punishment.

"Such intentional denial can also constitute crimesagainst humanity such as murder, extermination, torture and other inhumaneacts, or persecution when committed in the context of a widespread orsystematic attack against a civilian population."