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world news Diabierna 3 Juni 2022

U.N. report: Over 1 million displaced in Myanmar amid violence

BANGKOK (AP) — The The official, whose testi-
United Nations’ humani- mony was broadcast but
tarian relief agency says who was not identified by
the number of people dis- name, said 1,255 houses and
placed within strife-torn five religious buildings were
Myanmar has for the first burned or destroyed in fight-
time exceeded 1 million, ing between the army and
with well over half the to- local resistance militias, and
tal losing their homes af- consequently received gov-
ter a military takeover last ernment aid for rebuilding.
year. U.N. High Commissioner
for Refugees Filippo Gran-
The U.N. Office for the Co- di said last month that the
ordination of Humanitarian number of people world-
Affairs says in a report that wide forced to flee conflict,
an already critical situation is violence, human rights vio-
being exacerbated by ongoing lations and persecution has
fighting between the military crossed the milestone of 100
government and its oppo- million for the first time on
nents, the increasing prices record. That’s more than 1%
of essential commodities, of the global population and
and the coming of monsoon comprises refugees and asy-
season, while funding for its lum-seekers as well as people
relief efforts is severely inad- displaced inside their own
equate. Its report covers the OCHA says that fighting has — mostly in frontier regions targeted, OCHA says. The countries by conflict.
situation up to May 26. recently escalated. populated by ethnic minority country’s total population is Violence and conflicts in
The military has hindered or “The impact on civilians is groups who have been strug- over 55 million. countries including Ethio-
denied independent access to worsening daily with fre- gling for greater autonomy But it warns this year’s Myan- pia, Burkina Faso, Myanmar,
areas not under its control, quent indiscriminate attacks for decades. mar Humanitarian Response Nigeria, Afghanistan and
hampering aid efforts. and incidents involving ex- The report also says about Plan is only 10% funded so the Democratic Republic of
Myanmar’s army in February plosive hazards, including 40,200 people have fled to far, falling short by $740 mil- Congo had driven the total
last year seized power from landmines and explosive neighboring countries since lion. to almost 90 million by the
the elected government of remnants of war,” the report the takeover and more than An official of the military end of last year. The war in
Aung San Suu Kyi, triggering says. 12,700 “civilian properties,” government’s Ministry of Ukraine pushed the number
widespread peaceful protests. It says that more than including houses, churches, Social Welfare, Relief and Re- past the 100 million mark.
When those were put down 694,300 people have become monasteries and schools are settlement said Wednesday at The Internal Displacement
with lethal force by the army displaced from their homes estimated to have been de- a news conference in Myan- Monitoring Centre, an inde-
and police, nonviolent op- since the army takeover, with stroyed. mar’s capital Naypyitaw that pendent Geneva-based non-
position turned into armed thousands being uprooted As of the end of the first quar- the government distributed governmental organization,
resistance, and the country a second or third time, and ter of this year, humanitarian humanitarian aid to more said 53.2 million people were
slipped into what some U.N. an estimated 346,000 people assistance reached 2.6 mil- than 130,000 displaced peo- displaced within their coun-
experts characterize as a civil were displaced by fighting lion people in Myanmar, or ple from May 2021 through tries as a result of conflict and
war. before last year’s takeover 41% of the 6.2 million people May 27 this year. violence as of Dec. 31.

N. Korea criticized as it takes helm of U.N. disarmament body

GENEVA (AP) — Dozens to conduct a seventh nuclear All member states get a turn and said it is still technically few results over its decades
of mostly Western coun- test. at the presidency. In the past, at war with the United States of existence and has largely
tries criticized North Ko- She said members of the con- Western countries have at because only a cease-fire, not devolved into a venue for
rean “reckless actions” in ference who joined the state- times balked over the acces- a peace treaty, halted fighting countries to voice criticism
its weapons programs as ment have decided not to sion of some countries, such in the 1950-53 Korean War. of others’ weapons programs
its government on Thurs- boycott North Korea’s presi- as when Syria had a turn The conference has achieved or defend their own.
day took over the rotating dency, but remain “gravely several years ago. The presi-
presidency of the U.N.- concerned” about its “reck- dency is largely a symbolic
backed Conference on less actions which continue and administrative post and
Disarmament. to seriously undermine the doesn’t generally impact the
very value” of the body. She body’s proceedings. North
After North Korea’s ambas- said the countries’ participa- Korea is taking over the post
sador opened a new session tion should not be seen as from Cuba.
of the 65-nation body, Aus- giving any “tacit consent” Han Tae Song, North Ko-
tralian Ambassador Amanda to North Korea’s actions or rea’s ambassador, opened the
Gorely read a joint statement its “violation of numerous session by recognizing the
by 48 countries plus the Eu- United Nations Security “honor and privilege” of hav-
ropean Union that expressed Council resolutions.” ing the presidency. He urged
concerns about North Ko- France’s envoy, speaking member countries to work
rea’s nuclear weapons and on behalf of the European toward “peace and security”
ballistic missile capabilities Union, said its members will and expressed willingness to
and activities, including re- downgrade the level of their work with all member states.
ports that it may be preparing representation at the confer- He said the comments from
ence during North Korea’s Western countries were
nearly six-week presidency “nothing new” and no more
through July 1. Countries than “copy-paste” of previous
such as China, Nigeria, Paki- criticisms they have voiced
stan and Russia voiced sup- about North Korea’s behav-
port for North Korea’s presi- ior. He insisted that his coun-
dency. try has a right to defend itself