Published on: 2026-06-19
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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The UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Myanmar, Julie Bishop, warned the international community about the continuing deterioration of the situation in the country, where an armed conflict,humanitarian crisisand the growth of transnational crime is acquiring increasingly serious proportions.
Speaking at an informal meeting of the General Assembly on Friday, Bishop stated that the situation in Myanmar remains “extremely polarized,” and the consequences of the crisis are already being felt beyond the country’s borders.
Growth of organized crime
According to the Special Envoy, during two years of work in this position, she has 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 authorities to protect the civilian population, and the expansion of space for the activities of criminal groups.
“Records are set for reasons that absolutely don’t make sense,” Bishop noted.
Today Myanmar has become one of the world’s main centers of cybercrime. Transnational criminal networks, managinglarge-scale online fraud centers, expanded the activity of trading people for exploitation in these centers up to Africa, and the victims of the scam become people in America, Asia, and other regions of the world.
Moreover, the country has turned into one ofone of the largest global manufacturersMethamphetamine and opium. According to data provided by Bishop, Myanmar also ranks first in the world in the number of landmine victims.
The humanitarian situation is worsening
The envoy noted that 2025 became the deadliest year for children in Myanmar since the military coup in 2021. The main cause of civilian deaths remains airstrikes.
According to Bishop, the country’s healthcare system is on the verge of collapse, which increases the risk of disease outbreaks throughout the entire region.
Today Myanmar ranks among the largest-scaleglobal hunger hotspots. More than 3.7 million people have become internally displaced persons, and about 1.6 million more have taken refuge outside the country.
Position of the people of Rosindzha
The bishop paid special attention to the situation of the Rohingya. About 1.2 million representatives of this people live in neighboring Bangladesh, most of whom were forced to leave Myanmar almost ten years ago. Cox’s Bazar remains the largest refugee camp in the world.
On the eve of World Refugee Day, a UN representative warned about the spread of hate speech and online harassment against representatives of the Rohingya people.
“Inclusive Myanmar is impossible without security, justice, and equal opportunities for all communities, including the Rohingya, as well as without eliminating the root causes of conflict, discrimination, and alienation,” she emphasized.
The elections did not bring reconciliation
Speaking about the military-controlled elections held, which concluded in January 2026, Bishop noted that many citizens of the country view them not as a step towards civilian rule, but as a further strengthening of military power.
“The overall outcome is perceived by many participants in the political process in Myanmar as a consolidation of military power, rather than a transition to civilian rule,” the Special Envoy stated.
Violence continues
The bishop expressed concern that the calls by the General Assembly, the Security Council, and the Secretary-General to cease hostilities remain unanswered.
According to her, during the election period, military operations and airstrikes on civilian targets continued, and children were once again among the casualties.
Villagers reportedly face recruitment attempts by various armed groups, accompanied by extortion at checkpoints, restrictions on movement, and obtaining humanitarian aid.
“Young people leave the country, embarking on dangerous journeys, including by sea, becoming victims of human trafficking, exploitation, and an illegal economy linked to drugs and fraudulent schemes,” said the speaker.
Bishop called for the release of all arbitrarily detained persons, including government advisor Aun San Suu Kyi, who remains under guard following the military coup.
“Today, on her 81st birthday, I ask you to join me in demanding her release,” Bishop said.
She emphasized that for many citizens of the country, achieving peace is impossible as long as Aun San Suu Kyi remains in detention.
Concluding the speech, the Special Envoy called on the international community to show solidarity with the people of Myanmar and to support efforts to achieve a peaceful, inclusive, and dialogue-based resolution of the crisis.
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