Geneva/Yangon (ICRC) – "The ICRC's humanitarian work in Myanmar has now
reached near-paralysis," the organization's director of operations has said. Speaking in Geneva, Pierre Krähenbühl explained that staff were still unable to resume visits to detainees
anywhere in the country or to conduct independent field operations in sensitive border areas. "A recent meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs made no headway," he added.
Despite
sustained effort by the International Committee of the Red Cross to overcome differences that have surfaced over many months, the Ministry has maintained its drastic restrictions on the
organization.
Those restrictions are jeopardizing the ICRC's ability to discharge its internationally recognized mandate since they are incompatible with its independent and neutral
approach to assessing the need for humanitarian action and to assisting vulnerable people.
The ICRC has therefore decided to close two of its offices, one in Mawlamyine (Mon State) and the
other in Kyaing Tong (East Shan State).
It is carefully considering whether to keep open its remaining field offices.
"Living and security conditions for civilians in sensitive
border areas remain a real concern for the ICRC," Mr Krähenbühl said.
"There are also strong indications of a deterioration in conditions of detention and treatment at several
places of detention." Over the past two years, the ICRC has regularly raised issues of urgent humanitarian concern with the Government of Myanmar both orally and in writing, insisting both on measures
to improve the situation and on being able to effectively and freely carry out its activities.
However, with no tangible response from the authorities and with the restrictions that have
been imposed on the ICRC, the organization's core humanitarian activities are now at stake.
The ICRC deplores the failure of its efforts to rekindle a meaningful humanitarian dialogue with
the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The ICRC remains open to high-level discussions with the Myanmar authorities to break the persisting deadlock and stands ready to act immediately to address
the most pressing humanitarian issues provided that it may operate independently and with regular and direct access to persons in need.
The ICRC opened an office in Yangon and started a
limb-fitting and rehabilitation project in 1986.
Since 1999 it has carried out assistance and protection work in places of detention and in sensitive border areas.
Over the past
year, the ICRC has reduced the number of its expatriate staff from 56 to 16 because of the restrictions imposed by the Government of Myanmar.
For further information, please
contact:
Thierry Ribaux, ICRC Yangon, tel +951 662 613 or +951 664 524
Carla Haddad, ICRC Geneva, tel +41 22 730 24 05 or +41 79 217 32 26
