UN report finds Myanmar’s governance crisis deepening amid resource exploitation
The UN Human Rights Office attributes the deterioration in Myanmar to the military’s consolidation of power and the unchecked expansion of illicit rare earth mining, which has compounded humanitarian and environmental costs.
The human rights situation in Myanmar has deteriorated to a new low, according to a report published on Tuesday by the United Nations Human Rights Office. The assessment attributes the decline primarily to the military’s quest for control and legitimacy following its 2021 coup, which has intensified the suffering of civilians through tactics such as airstrikes, arson attacks, and the denial of assistance.
The report highlights the devastating impact of illicit economies, particularly illegal mining for rare earths in northern Kachin and northeastern Shan states. Satellite imagery confirms that Kachin state has become the primary mining area, with 302 new sites established since 2021, representing a 149 per cent increase. This expansion has strengthened transnational criminal networks in the absence of the rule of law, while mining runoff has caused environmental contamination linked to sharp surges in miscarriages and other pregnancy complications due to heavy metal and chemical exposure.
In western Rakhine State, the military and the Arakan Army have continued to commit widespread violations against the Rohingya minority. The report accuses the Arakan Army of arbitrary arrests, torture, sexual and gender-based violence, forced labour, and the destruction of villages and religious sites. These abuses come nine years after a brutal crackdown forced approximately 700,000 Rohingya to flee into Bangladesh, with the current violence causing renewed displacement.
The humanitarian toll remains severe, with an estimated 8,075 civilians, including 1,074 children, killed since the coup. At least 1,241 of these deaths occurred in the past year, though the report cautions that open sources suggest the total could be as high as 15,731. The number of internally displaced people has risen to 3.6 million, while 12.4 million people face acute hunger and 400,000 young children and mothers suffer from acute malnutrition.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk described the findings as deeply troubling, noting that the report depicts a picture of suffering and cruelty across the country. He urged states, companies, and investors to reconsider their involvement with the Myanmar state, calling for serious reflection on whether their actions or inaction are fair and just for the people of Myanmar.
