The UN’s special rapporteur on Myanmar condemned US foreign aid cuts as a harmful betrayal, asserting they would lead to significant suffering in the country. Tom Andrews emphasized the need for a unified response from the UN Human Rights Council to address the humanitarian crisis stemming from these politically motivated actions, exacerbated by the coup that removed the elected government in 2021.
Geneva’s UN special rapporteur on Myanmar, Tom Andrews, criticized the recent cuts to US foreign aid, labeling them a disgraceful betrayal that would lead to significant suffering and loss of life in Myanmar. Andrews, a former US congressman, emphasized that these actions are politically motivated and based on misinformation, exacerbating the already dire situation in the war-torn country.
Andrews urged the 47 members of the UN Human Rights Council to collectively address this issue as a matter of moral duty. 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,” highlighting the detrimental consequences of the aid reduction.
He further acknowledged that while it is important to examine the effectiveness of aid programs, the current situation should not be conflated with those concerns. Andrews stated, “But this is not about either. It is about making politically-motivated and demonstrably false declarations about corruption, waste and abuse that will cause immense suffering and cost untold numbers of lives.”
Andrews underscored that Myanmar has been plunged into turmoil following a coup on February 1, 2021, which dismantled a decade of democracy under Aung San Suu Kyi. The country faces a brutal civil conflict, with over 3.5 million displaced by ongoing violence between various ethnic rebel groups and the military.
In conclusion, the UN’s special rapporteur on Myanmar, Tom Andrews, has profoundly condemned the US’s decision to cut foreign aid, asserting that it is a significant moral failing with severe humanitarian implications. By calling for a unified response from the UN Human Rights Council, Andrews seeks to address the dire consequences that the people of Myanmar face due to this politically driven decision. The country’s ongoing crisis further complicates an already devastating humanitarian landscape, demanding urgent attention and action from the international community.
Original Source: www.thenews.com.pk
