Human suffering at unprecedented levels and criminal networks ‘out of control’, UN special envoy warns.

Myanmar is gripped by crisis as conflict escalates, criminal networks “out of control” and human suffering at unprecedented levels, a United Nations report has warned.

UN Special Representative for Myanmar Julie Bishop told the UN General Assembly’s human rights committee on Tuesday that “Myanmar actors must move beyond the current zero-sum mentality.”

Bishop called for an end to the violence, stressing that there can be little progress in addressing people’s needs as armed conflict continues across the Southeast Asian country, causing rising civilian casualties.

The conflict has “so seriously undermined” the rule of law that “transnational crime emanating from Myanmar is proliferating,” she added.

“The scale of arms production and trade, people-trafficking, drug manufacturing and trafficking, and fraud centers mean that Myanmar now ranks highest among all member states for organized crime,” she said. “Criminal networks are out of control.”

“The Forgotten Crisis”

Myanmar’s military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and quelled widespread protests calling for a return to democratic rule.

In the past year, powerful armed ethnic groups have gained territory as military government forces have been pushed further back in the fighting.

The UN estimates that three million people are displaced in Myanmar and around 18.6 million are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Bishop, who was previously Australia’s foreign minister, said he had engaged with the government, including senior general Min Aung Hlaing in the Myanmar capital, Naypyidaw, as well as opposition representatives and ethnic armed organisations.

It was unclear when the meetings took place and Bishop did not provide further details.

The UN representative said he had also visited China and Thailand and would soon visit India and Bangladesh, “continuing to urge neighboring countries to exert their influence”.

She said she would also return to Naypyidaw, but gave no time frame.

“Any path to reconciliation requires an end to violence, accountability and unfettered access for the UN and its partners,” Bishop said.

“The conflict in Myanmar risks becoming a forgotten crisis,” she added. “The regional implications of this crisis are obvious, but the global impact can no longer be ignored.”