Bi-weekly Update on the Current Situation in Myanmar(1-2-2025 to 15-2-2025)

Bi-weekly Update on the Current Situation in Myanmar

(1-2-2025 to 15-2-2025)

(49) months ago, on 1 February 2021, the military junta attempted an illegal coup, toppled the civilian government, and unlawfully detained State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint, and other senior members of the civilian government, parliamentarians and activists. Since then, the military junta has ignored the will of the people of Myanmar, placed the country in turmoil, and made people suffer tremendously as a result of its inhumane and disproportionate acts.

As of 15 February 2025, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), the military has ruthlessly killed 6,286 people and arrested another 28,574 people. 21,829 people remain in detention and 168 people have been sentenced to death, including 119 post-coup death row prisoners and 44 in absentia since 1 February 2021, when the military unleashed systematic and targeted attacks and violence against innocent civilians. Four democracy activists who were sentenced to death were executed by the military junta in July 2022.

Moreover, over 3.5 million people are being displaced. Almost 20 million are in need of humanitarian assistance. Among them, 10.4 million are women and girls. 112,485 houses were burned down throughout Myanmar since the 1 February 2021 coup until the end of December 2024, according to a report by Data for Myanmar. Of those, 108,645 houses were deliberately set on fire by junta soldiers or members of allied organizations according to the report released by Data for Myanmar on 27 February 2025.

Crimes committed Across Myanmar by the Junta Troops and its affiliates

Crimes perpetrated by the junta troops and its affiliates, militias across Myanmar include extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture, sexual violence, enforced disappearances, and the targeting of civilians, including children. These atrocities have led to widespread displacement, destruction of civilian properties, and a climate of fear and insecurity among the civilian population. The junta's widespread and systematic tactics of brutality are aimed at suppressing dissent and maintaining its grip on power, regardless of the human cost and violations of international law.

According to the data collected by AAPP, from February 1 to 15, 2025, the junta killed (31) people in total across the country; (11) women and (20) men, including (2) people who were killed after being detained by the junta. These are the numbers that have been verified. Among the deaths, Shan State recorded the highest number of fatalities, totaling (8), and the junta’s airstrikes killed (19) people.  Among them, (12) people in total; (6) women and (6) men, were killed by the junta’s artillery strikes across the country, including (2) children under the age of 18. The identities of these victims have been verified. Among them, Shan State records the highest number of fatalities, with (4) people losing their lives. 

War Crimes, Crimes against Humanity and Mass Murders Committed by the Military Junta

Nine Killed, 30 Injured in Junta Bombing of IDP Camp in Kalay Township

At least nine people were killed and 30 injured in a military junta bombing raid on an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Kalay Township, Sagaing Region on 31 January evening, according to Myanmar Now. Two bombs fell on the IDP camp in the village of Koke Ko, about 45 miles south of Kalay, in an area controlled by resistance forces. Three of the nine people killed were not identifiable because their intact remains could not be recovered.

The bombs landed directly on the IDP camp, said a local resident from Kalay Township. It happened around 5:30pm. The compound is large, so displaced people had built shelters there. Efforts are ongoing to gather detailed information about the people slain and injured in the airstrike. A local man connected to the resistance forces said it was clear the air force had targeted the camp deliberately in the bombing, as there had been no recent battles in the area.

At around noon earlier the same day, the junta air force had also struck the Singu Township General Hospital in northern Mandalay Region. Singu has been under the control of anti-junta armed groups since last July. The Mandalay Region People's Defence Force (MDY-PDF) released a statement saying that the airstrike on Singu Township General Hospital had also been unprovoked, as there had been no recent clashes in the vicinity.

Yesterday's airstrike hit an unoccupied building, so there were no casualties. However, the buildings were severely damaged. They knew it was a hospital when they conducted the strike, said MDY-PDF spokesperson. The junta has been carrying out a relentless campaign of airstrikes for months, apparently hitting schools, monasteries, hospitals, and other civilian targets on purpose. The airstrikes killed dozens of civilians, including children, in January, Myanmar Now stated.

Over 6,000 Civilians Displaced by Junta Forces in Magway Region's Salin Township

Escalating clashes and raids by military junta forces have displaced more than 6,000 civilians in Magway Region's Salin Township since last week of January, according to Myanmar Now. Junta troops targeted two villages in the township on 30 January in retaliation for an ambush by resistance forces. They burned down at least 56 houses in Ka Hnyat and Tha Yet Khon after they were ambushed near to these villages.

The attack on a column of junta troops took place last week near Ka Hnyat, a village less than three miles north of the junta-held town of Salin. On 27 January, junta shelling killed a 15-year-old girl in Moe Win, another village north of Salin. Nearly 80 percent of the displaced people have sought refuge in resistance-held areas in Salin Township.

Junta troops also launched arson attacks on villages near the No. 22 military armament factory in Magway's Seikphyu Township, north of Salin, on 2 February, damaging a school and several houses, said local sources. Shelling and arson attacks by junta forces were also reported in Pwinbyu Township, south of Salin, on 1 February. At least 100 houses were damaged or destroyed in the village of Ma De, according to local news outlet Myaelatt Athan.

Junta Forces Launch Heavy Artillery Strikes in Kyaukphyu Township, Rakhine State

Military junta forces in Kyaukphyu Township, Rakhine State, have launched heavy artillery strikes in first week of February 2025, forcing residents from some 10 villages near Chinese investment sites to flee to safer areas. Myanmar Now reported that despite no direct clashes with the Arakan Army (AA), junta forces at the Dhanyawadi and Ohn Kyi Kyun naval bases have launched heavy artillery and drone strikes, forcing residents from at least 10 villages to flee.

While most residents of Kyaukphyu have fled to safer areas, about one-third of the town's population remain trapped in the area, according to the same source. Clashes between the AA and military junta have drawn closer to Chinese and foreign-owned development projects and pipelines. In January, the AA captured the China-Myanmar pipeline's station in Ann, a significant blow to the military junta. The military junta controls only the town centre, while the AA holds about 90% of the surrounding territory, a source said. Although the military junta maintains positions at Taung Maw Gyi naval base, their movements are severely restricted. Any attempt to leave these positions would likely trigger clashes.

Despite the persistence of junta camps in Kyaukphyu, another local resident assessed that it wouldn't be difficult for the AA, which has been achieving continuous victories, to capture the town as they already have it surrounded. Kyaukphyu is a key location for Myanmar's oil and gas pipeline network. The main control station for the nearly 800-kilometer pipeline, which runs through Rakhine State, Magway Region, Mandalay Region, and Shan State, begins at Ma Day Island in Kyaukphyu and connects to China's Yunnan Province. Although much of the pipeline is under resistance control, the junta still retains its profits, as they operate the main control centre in Kyaukphyu Town.

Seven Elderly Women and a Six-Year-Old Girl Injured by Junta Artillery in Mandalay Region

Seven elderly women and a six-year-old girl were seriously injured after military junta forces fired on two villages in Mandalay Region's Madaya Township on 5 February 2025, according to local media outlets.  The first attack took place at around 11am and targeted Taungkan, a village about 7 miles east of the town of Madaya. Two artillery shells landed in a monastery used to shelter displaced civilians, injuring three women, one of whom lost her leg according to the local sources.

Two hours later, Wathondara Village, near the border between Madaya and Patheingyi townships, was hit by five artillery shells. Five women in their sixties and a six-year-old girl were injured in the attack.  They were at the village's community hall. The women were all of similar age, he said, identifying one of the victims as Khin Mar Lwin, whose granddaughter was among the injured.

All five were initially treated in the village but were later transferred to Mandalay General Hospital due to the critical nature of their injuries. No further information about their conditions was available at the time of reporting. There were also unconfirmed reports of two men being killed by junta shelling in Aungchanthar, another village in Madaya Township, on 4 February.  Most of Madaya Township is under the control of the Mandalay People's Defence Force (MDY-PDF). However, the junta still holds a few positions in the east of the township.

According to MDY-PDF spokesperson Osmond, small-scale battles occur daily in eastern Madaya Township. The junta regularly conducts drone attacks and artillery shelling from bases to the south of the township, he said. Wathondara is one of the villages in eastern Madaya Township not yet captured by the MDY-PDF. The junta has stationed troops in nearby villages in Patheingyi Township to the south, according to a man living in the area.

Junta Air and Artillery Attacks Kill Nine People South of Monywa

Junta air and artillery attacks killed at least nine people and injured more than two dozen others south of the Sagaing Region capital Monywa on 12 Febuary 2025, According to the Myanmar Now. The attacks began at around 7:30pm, when troops stationed at a military junta outpost in the village of Ma-U, on the southern edge of Monywa, began shelling Bu Ba, a village some four miles to the south, killing at least two women. This was followed a little more than an hour later by air raids on four other villages farther south in Monywa and Chaung-U townships.

In Thit Seint, one of the targeted villages, two people were killed and four were injured, according to a local resident. A man and a woman from Nyaung Hpyu Pin were also killed on the spot when bombs landed right beside their house in the northwestern part of the village, the resident added. The plane continued south to neighbouring Chaung-U Township, where it dropped bombs on the village of Ku Lar Gyi, killing three people, including two children. A man in his 70s, a five-year-old boy, and an eight-year-old girl were killed as bombs landed on their makeshift shelter. Sources in the affected villages said that the death toll was expected to rise, as a number of the victims were critically injured.

Following the bombing raids, a column of junta troops departed from Taw Pu, a village controlled by the pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia, in order to reinforce the police station in Nyaung Hpyu Pin.  Most residents of the area have also been forced to flee, as the military junta continued its attacks on 14 February. A junta aerial assault also reportedly injured two teenage girls in Salingyi Township, west of Monywa, on the morning of 14 February. No further details were available at the time of reporting.  

Human Rights Abuses

Foreigners Rescued from Scam Centres Show Signs of Severe Abuse

Some 261 foreigners who were handed over to Thai authorities from Myawaddy's Khyauk Khet suffered unspeakable abuses in Chinese scam operations there. They represent only a fraction of those who remain enslaved in scam centres across Myawaddy Township, Karen State, along the Thai border and beyond, the Irrawaddy stated.

Many of those who were rescued showed signs of torture and mental distress. The 261 foreigners from a dozen countries were shipped to freedom across the Moei River to Phop Phra in Thailand's Tak Province on 12 February.

The Irrawaddy reported that the victims came from the Philippines, Bangladesh, Brazil, Nepal, Kenya, Laos, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Uganda, and Taiwan. Many had bruises on their legs, arms, upper bodies, and around their eyes, The Irrawaddy  stated based on their visit on 13 February. A Pakistani national told The Irrawaddy, I was subjected to electric shocks every day. Other people were also tortured. Many of them were tortured more badly than I was.

The torture was carried out by rank-and-file DKBA soldiers at the orders of the Chinese gangs for infractions from failing to meet their scam quotas to refusing to cooperate. DKBA is a military affiliation group with Myanmar military and operating under the junta chain of command. One person who is helping to rescue the people trafficked to scam operations stated, according to an escapee who was tortured with a stun gun, there were more than 100 people in the building he stayed. He said the place where he stayed was worse than other places and asked us to help the remaining people. According to victims, there are scam centres and casinos in around 20 buildings in the deceptively idyllic valley of Khyauk Khet that are officially known as Chinese projects.

Junta Blockade of Wetlet Town Leads to Four Deaths amid Food and Medicine Shortages

Four people have died amid an acute shortage of food and medicines due to a month long junta blockade of the Sagaing Region town of Wetlet, which is surrounded by resistance strongholds, reported by the Irrawaddy. Around 150 junta personnel—including 50 soldiers, local police, junta-aligned militias, and civil servants given military training—are deployed to cut the town off from surrounding villages that are controlled by anti-junta forces, according to Wetlet Township People's Defense Team.

It's been about a month since they imposed the blockade, a resident said. We can't go outside the town and have to buy food from junta soldiers. They are selling goods they have seized by force at exorbitant prices. We can't buy the amount we need. Some people who are sick can't get their medication anymore.

Fuel prices have soared to 18,000 kyats per liter, compared to a market price of just over 3,000 kyats in Yangon. Rice costs around 15,000 kyats per pyi (2.4 kg) and cooking oil around 40,000 kyats per viss (around 1.7 L) Patients with chronic conditions like cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes are suffering from shortages of medicines and are unable to leave the town for treatment, resulting in at least four deaths from cancer and heart disease, according to local sources.

Wetlet Township is 27 km south of Shwebo on the Sagaing-Myitkyina railway line and is surrounded by a dozen villages that are resistance strongholds.

Though the markets are open, there is nothing to buy. The flow of goods has stopped, another resident said. Previously, small villages around the town would bring fresh produce to sell, but now no one is allowed in, and all four entrances to the town are blocked. At the time of the 2019 census, Wetlet town consisted of 1,791 households or a population of 9,528, while the entire township had 210,677 residents. Only a few people had fled the town before the blockade. Wetlet Township stretches westward from the Irrawaddy to the Moo River, bordering Shwebo Township to the north and Sagaing Township to the south.

Actions of Resistance Forces against the Junta

KIA Seizes Junta Tank Battalion in Bhamo Amid Intensified Fighting

Kachin Independence Army (KIA) forces seized a military junta tank battalion in Bhamo city, near the Myanmar-China border, amid heavy clashes this week, according to the local medias and resistance sources. Since launching their offensive on 4 December, the KIA and allied anti-junta forces have seized an airfield, several battalions, and parts of Bhamo city, advancing toward the junta command headquarters. KIA captured Tank Battalion 5014, with remaining troops retreating to Military Operations Command 21 (MOC-21). Despite deploying thousands of troops, the KIA still faces junta bases with superior firepower. Military aircraft have conducted repeated airstrikes across the state and used drones to bomb Bhamo.

Colonel Naw Bu, a KIA spokesperson, said that he could not confirm casualty numbers as reports are still being compiled. A source familiar with the situation reported that multiple junta battalions, cut off from escape routes, are fighting fiercely rather than surrendering. The airport has been unusable since fighting began, with all roads and water routes blocked. Joint Kachin forces have seized the townships of Momauk, Mansi, and Hsin Hkan village, securing key areas west and north of Bhamo, including the Ayeyarwady's west bank.

Chin Resistance Forces Invite Residents to Return to Mindat Two Months After Driving Out Military Junta

Two months after driving Myanmar's military junta out of the southern Chin State town of Mindat, Chin resistance forces have invited residents to return to rebuild their lives, Myanmar Now stated.

On 9 February 2025, the Mindat Township People's Administration Organisation (PAO) issued a statement declaring that the town, with a pre-conflict population of more than 10,000, is now safe enough for civilians to resettle. They are now able to return and resettle here. We have cleared approximately 95 percent of the mines, Yaw Marn, a spokesperson for the Mindat Township PAO, told Myanmar Now.

Mindat has been a key battleground of the Chin resistance movement since the military junta seized power in February 2021, forcing most residents to flee for safety. In early November of last year, the Chin Brotherhood Alliance, a coalition of local resistance groups, launched attacks on junta forces stationed in the town, including Infantry Battalion 274. According to Yaw Marn, most residents have already made their contribution to the resistance forces.

The Mindat Township PAO has also issued a statement outlining 12 rules for returnees, including a 7pm-6am curfew, a ban on gatherings of more than 10 people during the resettlement period, and restrictions on festivals and other events. Yaw Marn explained that gathering restrictions are necessary to minimize the risk of airstrikes. He also noted that once the town becomes more populated, there are plans to educate residents on how to build bomb shelters. Regarding the municipal markets, we will no longer allow the entire market to operate in one location as before. Instead, we plan to divide it into three to five areas, each with designated operating times, he added.

Out of the nine townships in Chin State, the Chin Brotherhood Alliance governs Matupi, Mindat, and Kanpetlet, while Paletwa is controlled by their ally, the Arakan Army. The Chinland Council, led by the Chin National Front, administers Tonzang Township, while the junta forces remain in control of the state capital Hakha, along with Thantlang, Tedim, and Falam townships.

 Resistance Groups Capture Strategic Junta Military Base in Sagaing Region

Anti-junta resistance groups have captured the military junta's Kann Parr Ni base in southern Kale Township, Sagaing Region, the Irrawaddy reported. The base serves as a strategic gateway connecting southern Kale Township to northern Gangaw Township in Magwe Region. The area is controlled by Pyu Saw Htee militia group under the guidance of former Lieutenant Colonel Hla Swe, a former lawmaker of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).

The militia groups are notorious for violence against civilians, including shelling and burning villages whose residents oppose military rule. Early last year, militia members burned two detained anti-junta resistance members alive in public in the pro-military village of Myauk Khin Yan in Gangaw Township.

A spokesperson for the Chin Defense Force (CDF) (Kalay-Kabaw-Gangaw) told The Irrawaddy on 14 February that its ground troops found the bodies of many dead junta forces after seizing the Kann Parr Ni Base, which has a heliport. Resistance forces also seized several weapons and some ammunition. The base is vital to the junta, as it is the main defensive position for several pro-military villages near the border between Kale and Gangaw townships, the spokesman said.

On 13 February, Hla Swe confirmed the fall of the Kann Parr Ni Base via his Facebook page, stating it had been the strongest defensive position between Kale and Gangaw. He revealed that around 70 of his militia fighters along with a Myanmar army major were stationed at the base when it came under attack by People's Defense Forces (PDFs). He criticized the major for fleeing at the onset of the PDF attack despite having support from warplanes, which conducted airstrikes against the resistance forces.

Meanwhile, junta warplanes conducted airstrikes at the clash site and against nearby civilian villages. Myanmar military junta warplanes have been bombing villages in southern Kale Township since 7 February. Local media reported that the airstrikes killed several civilians including children and forced over 5,000 people from 10 villages to flee their homes. A resident of Kale said that Junta warplanes are constantly circling and bombing nearby villages.

Arakan Army Expands Operations into Magwe Region, Seizes Junta Defensive Position

The Arakan Army reports seizing a junta defensive position in Ngape Township, Magwe Region this weekend, killing several dozen soldiers as it expands operations beyond its home state of Rakhine. Junta reinforcements from the 99th Light Infantry Division (LID) arrived on 28 military trucks to take up a defensive position at Gote-see-yoe Village on the Ann-Padan Road near the Rakhine-Magwe border last January 29.

AA troops raided the position on 31 January, killing over 60 junta soldiers and capturing others, according to sources on the ground. They also seized a large cache of weapons and ammunition. Junta forces withdrew to a hill northeast of the village on 1 February, but updates on the fighting were unavailable. At least three local resistance groups are reportedly attacking junta reinforcements along the Ann-Padan road in Ngape Township. The groups are also blocking and attacking junta forces as they flee the AA's border offensive.

Magwe hosts over a dozen of the junta's ordnance factories, known by the Burmese acronym KaPaSa. KaPaSa 14, which produces missiles and electronic printed circuit boards (PCBs), is located in Ngape town. Beyond lie six more ordnance factories – KaPaSa 2, 10, 12, 13, 20 and 21 – on the west bank of the Irrawaddy in Magwe Region.

Troops under the 99th LID were dispatched to Magwe starting 6 December as the junta struggled to defend its Western Command in Ann Township on the Rakhine-Magwe border. Over 1,300 junta soldiers were reportedly dispatched to the border as of 29 January, but only around 700 remain after hundreds were killed in action, surrendered or fled, according to sources on the ground.

The AA has now seized 14 out of Rakhine State's 17 townships, as well as Paletwa township in neighbouring Chin State, since launching a major anti-junta offensive in November 2023. It has also been making rapid advances in Bago, Magwe and Ayeyarwady regions.

Activities of the National Unity Government and Ethnic Organizations

Acting President Calls for United Military Alliance in Spring Revolution

Myanmar's Acting President Duwa Lashi La has called for the formation of a broad military alliance uniting all ethnic groups as part of the ongoing Spring Revolution against the military junta. Speaking on February 12 during a ceremony commemorating the 78th anniversary of the historic Panglong Agreement, Duwa Lashi La emphasized the need for revolutionary unity.

"We aim to establish a revolutionary pact between the central region and the ethnic states, similar to the Panglong Agreement. Additionally, we all hope for the emergence of a united military alliance comprising all ethnic groups," the Acting President stated. Duwa Lashi La characterized the Spring Revolution as "the largest and most intense people's revolution in modern history," explaining that its fundamental purpose is "liberation from fear."

The Acting President urged all revolutionary forces to maintain their focus on the common objective, stressing that "the common enemy is the military junta." The call for a united military alliance comes amid ongoing conflict throughout Myanmar following the February 2021 military takeover, with resistance forces continuing to oppose junta rule in multiple regions of the country.

Myanmar's Pro-Democracy Groups Issue Joint Statement on Political Objectives

The National Unity Government (NUG), Chin Brotherhood, Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), National League for Democracy (NLD), and the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) have issued a joint statement outlining six key political objectives for Myanmar's future.

The statement reaffirms their collective commitment to removing military rule and ensuring the complete withdrawal of the military from politics. It specifically calls for all armed forces to be placed under the full administration of a democratically elected civilian government.

The pro-democracy coalition demands the total abolition of the 2008 Constitution and opposes any efforts to reinstate it. Instead, the groups pledge to draft a new federal democratic constitution acceptable to all stakeholders and to establish a new Federal Democratic Union based on that framework.

The joint declaration emphasizes the importance of transitional justice for victims of human rights violations, including gender-based violence during the conflict. It also highlights the critical need to secure the release of political leaders and prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, as a crucial step toward resolving Myanmar's current crisis. Additionally, the statement urges all revolutionary forces to resolve internal disputes peacefully, treating them as allied conflicts rather than adversarial confrontations.

Myanmar Ambassador Calls for Action to Save Children Amid Military Junta Violence

Myanmar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, delivered an urgent appeal for increased international support to protect Myanmar's children during the First Regular Session 2025 of the UNICEF Executive Board in New York on 4 February 2025.

In his address, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun highlighted the devastating humanitarian crisis facing Myanmar's children since the military takeover in February 2021, reporting that 6 million children now live in dire conditions, with children representing 33 percent of the country's 3.5 million internally displaced persons. "Many have either died or become orphaned or disabled due to the repeated launch of indiscriminate airstrikes, committed killing and maiming of children by the military junta and its affiliates," the Ambassador stated.

The Ambassador detailed how the military's aerial bombardment campaign has intensified, with 1,315 airstrikes recorded in 2024 alone. These attacks have targeted civilian infrastructure including homes, schools, hospitals, and displacement camps, forcing many children to attend classes in makeshift shelters and bunkers.

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun also raised alarm about the collapse of basic healthcare services, particularly routine immunization programs in hard-to-reach areas, warning that this breakdown threatens to trigger outbreaks of communicable diseases with potential regional implications.

While acknowledging UNICEF's ongoing humanitarian assistance, the Ambassador emphasized that "timely, sufficient and flexible funding is critical to meet the growing humanitarian needs," adding that "much more needs to be done."

In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun called specifically for international action to halt the supply of jet fuel to the military junta as a concrete step to protect civilians. "Only way at this moment to help save lives of innocent civilians including children is to end the military dictatorship and to stop flow of jet fuel to the military junta," he stated.

The Ambassador pledged continued efforts by Myanmar's National Unity Government to protect children but stressed that international cooperation is essential, ending with a direct appeal: "Please save Myanmar children and their future."

Myanmar Ambassador Calls for International Support to Address Social Development Crisis

Myanmar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, delivered a statement on the social development challenges of Myanmar during the General Discussion of the Sixty-third Session of the Commission for Social Development in New York.

In his address on February 11, 2025, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun welcomed the Commission's focus on accelerating commitments under the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, while aligning Myanmar with the statement of G-77 and China. The Ambassador highlighted the global obstacles to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including post-pandemic recovery challenges, complex global landscapes, and ongoing conflicts. "Obviously, insecurity is on the rise, inequality persists, and social cohesion is declining," he stated.

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun emphasized that Myanmar has been unable to implement the SDGs or strengthen social justice at home due to the military takeover in February 2021. He described the deteriorating situation in the country, reporting that "almost 20 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance" and "over 3.5 million people are being displaced."

The Ambassador detailed how poverty in Myanmar has reached its highest level in 15 years, with almost half the population now living below the national poverty line and 24 percent facing high levels of acute food insecurity. He also raised concerns about the collapse of regular immunization programs for children and a record-high unemployment rate. The Ambassador identified the military junta as "the main root cause of the crisis in Myanmar and main obstacles to meeting the SDGs," emphasizing that "it is vital to address this root cause."

In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun appealed to the international community to support Myanmar's efforts to "end the military dictatorship by stopping the flow of weapons, jet fuel and finance to the military junta," and to help build "a new future Myanmar with federal democratic system."

Response of the International Community

US Extends National Emergency Over Myanmar for Another Year

The US has extended its national emergency declaration over Myanmar for one more year, saying the situation in the country continues to pose an "extraordinary threat" to the US. On 10 February, 2021, the US government imposed a national emergency declaration over Myanmar in response to the military takeover.

In an executive order signed on 4 February, the US government said the situation in and in relation to Myanmar, in particular to the coup, "continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States". "For this reason, the national emergency declared on February 10, 2021, must continue in effect beyond February 10, 2025... I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14014 with respect to the situation in and in relation to Burma [Myanmar]," the notice transmitted to the US Congress stated.

The notice cited the Myanmar military's overthrowing of the democratically elected civilian government, and its unjust arrests and detentions of elected civilian leaders, politicians, human rights defenders, journalists and religious leaders. It said the Myanmar junta has undermined the country's democratic transition and the rule of law, acting against the will of the people.

Myanmar's National Unity Government (NUG) Foreign Minister Daw Zin Mar Aung earlier told The Irrawaddy that the US government's policies concerning Myanmar reflect a consistent approach shared by both the Democratic and Republican parties, making it unlikely that significant changes will occur under the new administration. She wrote on social media following the announcement of the continuation of the executive order that the decision reflects that consistent approach. "This signature reaffirms this stance," Daw Zin Mar Aung wrote.

Since the coup in February 2021, the junta has killed more than 6,200 people including 718 children and 1,408 women, and arrested over 28,000 dissidents, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an activist group that monitors the junta's killings and arrests. The group said the actual numbers are likely much higher as not all victims' identities have been verified yet.

In January this year alone, the junta killed over 170 people in aerial bombings of 40 towns across the country, according to data collected by The Irrawaddy. 

International Election Watchdogs Urge Rejection of Myanmar Junta's Planned Polls

International election watchdogs have urged the international community to deny any kind of support to the Myanmar junta's "illegitimate" planned polls. In a joint statement on 6 February, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), and Club de Madrid reiterated concerns first raised in a 2023 declaration, which dismissed any junta-led election as an attempt to entrench military rule rather than restore democracy.

The groups said a genuine election in Myanmar is "impossible under current conditions" where opposition parties remain banned, political leaders and democracy activists languish in jail, and a free press is suppressed. "There is no possibility that an election held under Myanmar's current conditions will be in line with international standards on democratic elections or commitments for electoral integrity," the groups said.

International IDEA, ANFREL, and Club de Madrid said any election held now "will not bring peace or stability to Myanmar. Instead, it will deepen divisions, fuel violence, entrench authoritarian rule and exacerbate the crisis caused by the military coup." "We urge the international community to continue to deny the SAC any technical, material or political support for such an illegitimate election," they added.

The organizations urged states to sanction Myanmar's military junta and work instead with Myanmar's democratic coalition to enable future genuine elections in the framework of the Federal Democracy Charter.

The military seized power in illegal mean after making unsubstantiated allegations of fraud in the 2020 elections, which State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won by a landslide. It later annulled the results, which had been recognized by International IDEA and ANFREL.

UN Secretary-General Warns of Deteriorating Situation in Myanmar as Crisis Reaches Four-Year Mark

The United Nations Secretary-General has issued a statement expressing grave concern over the worsening situation in Myanmar, four years after the military junta seized power on 1 February 2021. In a statement delivered during a daily press briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, the UN chief condemned all forms of violence and called on all parties to the conflict to exercise maximum restraint, uphold human rights and international humanitarian law, and prevent further incitement of violence and intercommunal tensions.

The Secretary-General reiterated his concern regarding the military's stated intention to hold elections amid intensifying conflict, including aerial bombardment and widespread human rights violations, and without the conditions that permit the people of Myanmar to freely and peacefully exercise their political rights, including safety and security.

The UN noted that over 19.9 million people in Myanmar — more than one-third of the country's population — now need humanitarian assistance, compared to only one million before the military takeover four years ago. The Secretary-General emphasized that unimpeded access must be assured to enable the UN and partners to continue delivering humanitarian assistance and essential services.

The statement renewed calls for greater cooperation among all stakeholders to bring an end to the hostilities and help the people of Myanmar forge a path towards an inclusive democratic transition and a return to civilian rule. The Secretary-General also appealed to countries in the region to grant access to safety and protection for those fleeing conflict and persecution, and for the international community to provide greater support to countries hosting large populations of refugees from Myanmar, including Bangladesh.

The UN Special Envoy for Myanmar, Julie Bishop, remains actively engaged with all stakeholders, in close cooperation with ASEAN, in the search for a Myanmar-led resolution to the crisis. The UN emphasized that a viable future for Myanmar must ensure safety, accountability, and opportunity for all communities, including the Rohingya, and address the root causes of conflict, discrimination, and disenfranchisement in all its forms.

The humanitarian situation in Myanmar was described as increasingly dire, with the World Food Programme warning that hunger has reached alarming levels. A staggering 15 million people are expected to face hunger in 2025, up from 13.3 million last year. Those living in active conflict areas, particularly in Chin, Kachin and Rakhine States, as well as Sagaing region, are experiencing the highest levels of food insecurity in the country.

More than 3.5 million people are displaced in Myanmar due to violence, a number projected to increase to 4.5 million in 2025 as conflict spreads to new areas. Food remains their biggest need, but rapid inflation has made it unaffordable for many, with the cost of basic staples — including rice, beans, oil and salt — increasing by 30 percent just in the last year. The World Food Programme aims to reach at least 1.6 million people in Myanmar with life-saving food, nutrition and resilience-building support in the coming year.

UN Special Representative Condemns Sexual Violence in Myanmar, Calls for Urgent Action

Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, has issued a strong condemnation of the continued use of rape and other forms of sexual violence in Myanmar, describing it as "a tactic of war and political repression and strategy to punish and terrorize communities."

In a press release issued on 3 February 2025, Special Representative Patten highlighted that in the four years since the military coup, civilians from diverse backgrounds have been subjected to sexual violence during ground operations, village raids, at checkpoints, and in detention settings.

"There are persistent and alarming reports about the continued use by the Myanmar security forces and their affiliates of sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, predominantly against women and children, but also men and LGBTQI persons," Patten stated. The Special Representative referenced evidence collected by the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar in July 2024, which documented sexual and gender-based crimes in relation to ongoing armed conflict and in detention.

Patten expressed particular concern about the increased reports of trafficking for sexual violence and exploitation of women and children, citing factors such as escalating conflict, poverty, food insecurity, and mandatory conscription. She specifically mentioned reports of Rohingya women and children being raped and trafficked as they fled to neighbouring countries.

The Special Representative called for all parties to immediately cease acts of sexual violence and for perpetrators to face justice, emphasizing that "breaking the cycle of impunity is urgent to shift the stigma of sexual violence from the survivors to the perpetrators." Patten also highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by survivors in accessing services and care, calling for increased international support to meet their medical, psychological, and socioeconomic needs.

The press release concluded with commendation for Myanmar's women's rights organizations who continue to support survivors despite great personal risk, and echoed the UN Secretary-General's call for all parties to exercise restraint and uphold human rights and international humanitarian law.

Japan Expresses "Serious Concern" Over Myanmar, Four Years After Military Coup

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya has issued a statement expressing "serious concern" over the continuing crisis in Myanmar, marking four years since the military coup on 1 February 2021. In the statement released by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Iwaya strongly condemned the Myanmar military for failing to work toward a peaceful resolution "despite repeated calls by the international community," noting that "many innocent civilians are killed and wounded daily by airstrikes and other acts of violence."

The Foreign Minister reaffirmed Japan's consistent position urging the Myanmar military to immediately stop violence, release detained individuals, and swiftly restore democratic governance. "The Government of Japan will continue to strongly urge the Myanmar military to immediately cease its airstrikes and other acts of violence, as well as to take concrete steps toward a peaceful resolution by releasing all parties concerned, including State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi," Iwaya stated.

The statement expressed deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation, noting that approximately 3.2 million civilians have been forced to live as displaced persons. Japan pledged to "actively provide humanitarian assistance that directly benefits the people of Myanmar in need" through cooperation with international organizations and NGOs. Iwaya also called on the Myanmar military to "allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access" for aid delivery and urged "all of Myanmar's relevant stakeholders" to engage in dialogue to improve the situation.

The statement concluded with Japan's commitment to "constantly stand with the people of Myanmar" while strengthening coordination with the international community, particularly ASEAN, to work toward resolving the crisis.

UK Foreign Secretary Calls for Aung San Suu Kyi's Release on Coup Anniversary

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has issued a "historic and impassioned plea" for the release of Myanmar's democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, marking the fourth anniversary of the military coup that removed her from power. In what is described as a "major intervention," Lammy directly appealed to Myanmar's military junta to free Suu Kyi and give the country's people "the peace and democracy they deserve." His statement marks the first call for her freedom from a serving UK cabinet minister since she was sentenced.

"Four years ago, Myanmar's military overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi's democratically elected government, stripping the Myanmar people of their right to a democratic voice," Lammy told The Independent. "Innocent civilians face daily atrocities and thousands of opposition voices, including Aung San Suu Kyi, remain detained on political charges."

The Foreign Secretary emphasized: "Four years on, we have not forgotten. Release Aung San Suu Kyi. Release all those arbitrarily detained. Give Myanmar's people the peace and democracy they deserve." To mark the anniversary, Suu Kyi's son Kim Aris is delivering a letter calling for her release to Myanmar's embassy in London. He described his mother, now 79, as the "last flame of hope for peace and democracy" who "must not be allowed to be snuffed out."

Former international development minister Andrew Mitchell, who has worked with Suu Kyi, praised Lammy's statement, calling her "the only legitimate leader of her country" and urging stronger international action through "sanctions and boycotts." The UK government also announced additional humanitarian support for Myanmar, with Development Minister Anneliese Dodds stating the UK would increase aid from £44 million to £66.45 million. The funding aims to address urgent health needs and climate challenges in a country where more than 3.5 million people are displaced and nearly 20 million require humanitarian assistance.

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Date: 15 February 2025

Permanent Mission of Myanmar to the United Nations, New York