Washington
The foreign ministers of the Quad countries have raised deep concerns about the worsening crisis in Myanmar and its effects on regional stability. In a joint statement after their meeting in Washington, they urged Myanmar’s military regime to keep its promise of a ceasefire and called on all sides to broaden and follow ceasefire measures.
"We remain deeply concerned by the worsening crisis in Myanmar and its impact on the region. We call on the regime to adhere to its commitment to a ceasefire," the statement said.
They strongly backed ASEAN’s efforts and its Five Point Consensus aimed at finding a peaceful and inclusive solution. The ministers also urged safe and free delivery of humanitarian aid, expressing worry over rising regional security issues and transnational crimes, including cybercrimes and online scams.
According to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, since the 2021 military coup, about 6,800 civilians have been killed and over 22,000 detained. Nearly 22 million people now need humanitarian help, and more than 3.5 million are displaced.
Following a deadly earthquake on March 28 that killed almost 4,000 and left six million needing urgent help, the military increased attacks instead of aiding relief efforts. The UN reported over 600 military strikes since the quake, with schools and religious sites often hit.
UN expert Tom Andrews also warned of a serious drop in global humanitarian support and accused the military of using aid as a weapon.
Myanmar’s crisis began when the military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in 2021, deepening violence and repression across the country.
