Mizzima
In a daily press conference held on 11th March, the Office of the Secretary-General’s Spokesperson called for civilians to be protected as international law demands, as the number of civilian deaths in Rakhine State rises.
Below is what Stéphane Dujarric, the Spokesman for the Secretary-General, António Guterres said about Myanmar at the press conference:
“Turning to Myanmar, where our humanitarian colleagues are deeply concerned about the indiscriminate use of heavy weapons in residential areas that is posing grave risks and costing civilian lives in Rakhine State.
“On Saturday, a stray artillery shell landed in a residential area in the state capital Sittwe, killing at least eight Rohingya civilians and injuring 12 others, including five children. This is the second time in two weeks that a stray shell has killed people in Sittwe.
“These incidents take place amid intensifying fighting in Rakhine between the Myanmar Armed Forces and the Arakan Army. The situation has prompted a surge in displacement across the state. More than 300,000 people are now displaced in Rakhine State.
“The tactics used by the parties to the conflict are harming civilians and undermining humanitarians ’continued ability to deliver assistance to people in need.
“We remind all parties to the conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians, including aid workers.
