The UN special rapporteur on Myanmar has condemned US foreign aid cuts as damaging and politically motivated, urging the UN Human Rights Council to respond collectively. He warned that these actions would cause extreme suffering in Myanmar, already facing a humanitarian crisis due to civil unrest. Andrews underscored the importance of addressing the underlying issues without letting misunderstandings about aid efficiency detract from the immediate needs of the population.
The United Nations special rapporteur on Myanmar, Tom Andrews, has criticized the recent cuts to US foreign aid, describing them as a “shameful act of betrayal” that will inflict severe suffering and loss of life in the war-torn nation. He expressed his dismay at the politically-motivated nature of these cuts, which he stated were based on misconceptions, and were executed in an extremely detrimental manner.
Andrews urged the 47 members of the UN Human Rights Council to unite and respond, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. He remarked, “The sudden, chaotic withdrawal of support, principally by the government of the United States, is already having a crushing impact on the people of Myanmar.” He acknowledged that while issues regarding the efficiency of aid programs deserve examination, this current situation transcends such concerns.
The primary concern, he argued, is the propagation of politically-driven, inaccurate claims regarding corruption and mismanagement, which could lead to substantial human suffering and loss of lives. He stated emphatically, “It is about betrayal. This is shameful.” The context of these comments comes following the military coup in Myanmar on February 1, 2021, which overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi’s government and has since resulted in a humanitarian crisis, displacing over 3.5 million individuals as violence escalates between the military and various ethnic factions.
In conclusion, the withdrawal of US aid to Myanmar, as characterized by UN Rapporteur Tom Andrews, poses a grave threat to the already vulnerable population. The call for collective action from the UN Human Rights Council underscores the urgent need for a concerted response to prevent further humanitarian catastrophe. The discourse surrounding aid efficacy should not overshadow the critical humanitarian implications of governmental decisions, which have the potential to cost many lives.
Original Source: www.thenews.com.pk
