NEW YORK: The United Nations (UN) has expressed serious concern on heavy fighting between the army and an alliance of ethnic minority groups in Myanmar, which has displaced more than 30,000 people.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general in a statement on Monday said the global body is alarmed by the heavy fighting, especially in Shan State in the northern part of Myanmar that led to civilian casualties and displacing tens of thousands internally.
He added humanitarian officials in the country have informed the UN officials that since 26 October nearly 33,000 men, women and children have been displaced.
Antonio Guterres stresses protection of civilians
He said that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has stressed that civilians should be protected at all cost urging for uninterrupted access to humanitarian assistance.
Fighting increased last week in large areas of Shan State, near to the Chinese border. Spokesperson for the Myanmar ruling junta, however, described such reports as propaganda.
The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Arakan Army (AA) have claimed to have taken the control of outposts and four towns, and seized important trade routes to China.
Read Also: China Asks Myanmar to ‘Cooperate’ on Border Stability
The ruling junta has said the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), an ethnic armed group has also joined the attacks on its forces, vowing retaliation. According to local media the junta has shelled the remote town of Laiza on the Chinese border, home to the KIA’s headquarters.
Meanwhile, a senior Chinese diplomat has stressed upon Myanmar to cooperate in maintaining peace and stability on their shared border.
