Guterres calls for international help for Myanmar, ending brutal civil conflict

IANS April 4, 2025 293 views

The United Nations has made an urgent plea for international assistance in Myanmar following a catastrophic earthquake that has killed over 3,000 people. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is calling not just for humanitarian aid, but for a comprehensive political solution to end the country's ongoing civil conflict. The UN is dispatching emergency relief coordinators to support rescue efforts and reinforce commitment to peace and dialogue. Despite the military regime's controversial governance, Guterres sees the current crisis as a potential opportunity for national reconciliation and democratic transformation.

"There must be an end to the violence and human rights violations across the country" - Antonio Guterres
Guterres calls for international help for Myanmar, ending brutal civil conflict
United Nations, April 4: While appealing for international help to quake-ravaged Myanmar, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for transforming the “tragic moment” into an opportunity to end the brutal civil conflict.

Key Points

1

UN seeks immediate funding for earthquake relief

2

Temporary ceasefire welcomed as potential peace opportunity

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Over 3,000 dead in devastating quake

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Military regime's legitimacy remains contested

He asked the international community to immediately step up vitally needed funding to match the scale of this crisis. And to the government and people of Myanmar, he said, “as they unite in grief, it’s also time to unite behind a political solution to end the brutal conflict.”

“There must be an end to the violence and human rights violations across the country and a pathway for democracy to take root,” he said while speaking to reporters at the UN on Thursday. Guterres announced that he was rushing Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher to Myanmar, and his Special Envoy Julie Bishop will visit the country "to reinforce our commitment to peace and dialogue.”

India had already launched “Operation Brahma” immediately after the earthquake, flying relief supplies and personnel to Myanmar, which was the epicentre of the March 28 earthquake. Guterres said, “The death toll is now 3,000 and climbing – with thousands injured, and many trapped under the rubble. This disaster has laid bare the deeper vulnerabilities facing people throughout the country,” he said.

He added that as communities across Myanmar unite in grief, it’s also time to unite behind a political solution to end the brutal conflict. Welcoming the temporary ceasefire between the military government and the rebels in the civil war, he said, “This is essential to help aid flow and let rescuers do their jobs. But an end to fighting must quickly lead to a beginning of a serious political dialogue and the release of political prisoners.”

He said that the ceasefire should lead to an inclusive political process where all the people of Myanmar feel represented. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that the quake has affected more than 17 million people. Myanmar is ruled by the military, which overthrew the democratically elected government in 2021. The regime has not been recognised, and the representatives of the civilian government continue to hold Myanmar’s seat at the UN.

Reader Comments

Here are 6 diverse comment cards for the article:
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Sarah K.
This is heartbreaking 💔 The international community needs to act fast with both humanitarian aid and diplomatic pressure. The people of Myanmar deserve peace and democracy after all they've endured.
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Michael T.
While I support the aid efforts, I'm skeptical about how much influence the UN really has here. The military junta has ignored international pressure for years. Maybe regional powers like India and China need to take more decisive action.
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Aisha R.
The temporary ceasefire is a small but important step. Hoping this leads to real dialogue. My thoughts are with all those affected by both the earthquake and the ongoing conflict. 🙏
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James L.
Respectfully, I think the article could have given more context about why the civil conflict started in the first place. Understanding the root causes is important for finding lasting solutions.
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Priya N.
Operation Brahma is a great initiative by India! More countries should follow this example of immediate humanitarian response. Natural disasters don't recognize borders or politics.
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Thomas W.
The numbers are staggering - 17 million affected, 3000+ dead. And that's on top of the existing humanitarian crisis from the civil war. The world can't look away from this tragedy.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
Myanmar Earthquake UN Antonio Guterres Humanitarian Crisis Myanmar Civil Conflict Natural Disaster Relief
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