UN Security Council expresses ‘deep concern’ about violence in Myanmar

The United Nations (U.N.) Security Council released a statement on Wednesday voicing “deep concern” about violence in Myanmar and calling for its “immediate cessation.”

The statement was issued to the press on Wednesday by Security Council President Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez.

“The members of the Security Council expressed deep concern at further recent violence across Myanmar. They called for an immediate cessation of violence and to ensure the safety of civilians,” the statement read.

It added that the council “encouraged the pursuance of dialogue and reconciliation” in Myanmar and “stressed that they continued to monitor the situation closely.”

In October, an Associated Press investigation found Myanmar’s military junta had been conducting a torture campaign since the country’s Feb. 1 coup earlier this year. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners said that more than 1,200 prisoners have been killed and at least 131 have been tortured to death.

The Security Council’s statement also addressed the need for humanitarian workers to be able to effectively and efficiently deliver COVID-19 vaccines to all, calling for “full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all people in need, and for the full protection, safety and security of humanitarian and medical personnel.”

The council additionally extended full support to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its efforts on behalf of the people of Myanmar.

Late last month, the Biden administration announced that it would provide $102 million in funding to bolster Southeast Asian nations’ resources to address COVID-19 and climate change, in addition to contributing to its economic growth.

At that time, Biden also “called on the country’s military regime to immediately end the violence, release those unjustly detained and restore Burma’s path to democracy,” per a White House statement.