© UNICEF/Nyan Zey Thet Millions of people in Myanmar need help. Myanmar breaks records: UN special envoy warns of deepening crisis Peace and Security
The UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Myanmar, Julie Bishop, warned the global community of the continuing deterioration of the situation in the country, where armed conflict, a humanitarian crisis and a rise in transnational crime are becoming increasingly serious.
Speaking at an informal meeting of the General Assembly on Friday, Bishop said the situation in Myanmar remains “extremely polarized” and the effects of the crisis are already being felt beyond the country’s borders.
Rise of organized crime
According to the Special Envoy, during the two years of work in this post, she repeatedly reported to the General Assembly and the UN Security Council about the growing crisis, the erosion of the rule of law, the inability of the authorities to protect civilians and the expansion of space for the activities of criminal groups.
“Records are not set for the reasons we would like,” she noted Bishop.
Today, Myanmar has become one of the world’s main centers of cybercrime. Transnational criminal networks operating large-scale online fraud hubs have expanded human trafficking activities for exploitation in these hubs as far as Africa, with people targeted in the Americas, Asia, and other regions of the world.
The country has also become one of the world’s largest producers of methamphetamine and opium. According to data cited by Bishop, Myanmar also ranks first in the world in the number of landmine casualties.
The humanitarian situation is deteriorating
The special envoy noted that 2025 was the deadliest year for children in Myanmar since the 2021 military coup. Airstrikes remain the leading cause of civilian deaths.
Bishop said the country’s health system is on the verge of collapse, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks throughout the region.
Today, Myanmar is one of the world’s worst hunger hotspots. More than 3.7 million people have been internally displaced, and about 1.6 million more are outside the country.
The situation of the Rohingya people
Bishop paid particular attention to the situation of the Rohingya. Neighboring Bangladesh is home to about 1.2 million people, most of whom were forced to leave Myanmar almost a decade ago. Cox’s Bazar remains the largest refugee camp in the world.
On the eve of World Refugee Day, a UN spokeswoman warned of the spread of hate speech and online harassment against the Rohingya people. she.
Elections did not bring reconciliation
Speaking of the military-controlled elections that ended in January 2026, Bishop noted that many people in the country see them not as a step towards civilian governance, but as a further consolidation of power army.
“The overall outcome is perceived by many in the political process in Myanmar as a consolidation of military power rather than a transition to civilian rule,” the Special Envoy said.
Violence continues
Bishop expressed concern that calls from the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Secretary-General for a cessation of hostilities remained unanswered.
Military operations and airstrikes against civilian targets continued during the election period, she said, with children again among the victims.
Village residents reportedly faced outside recruitment various armed groups, extortion at checkpoints and restrictions on movement and humanitarian aid.
“Young people are leaving the country on dangerous journeys, including by sea, becoming victims of human trafficking, exploitation and the illicit economy of drugs and fraudulent schemes,” the speaker said.
60~p>Bishop called for the release of all those arbitrarily detained and, in particular, State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, who remains in custody after the military coup.
“Today, on her 81st birthday, I ask you to join me in demanding her release,” Bishop said.
60~p>She stressed that in the eyes of many people in the country, the achievement peace is impossible while Aung San Suu Kyi remains imprisoned.
Concluding her speech, the Special Envoy called on the international community to remain in solidarity with the people of Myanmar and support efforts to achieve a peaceful, inclusive and dialogue-based solution to the crisis.