Myanmar

António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Japan to take in Myanmar refugees under pilot resettlement project – UN

19 December 2008
The United Nations refugee agency has welcomed Japan’s decision to introduce a pilot resettlement programme to accept Myanmar refugees in Thailand starting in 2010, making it the first country in the region to launch such an initiative.
The devastating cyclone has left hundreds of thousands of people desperately in need of help

Needs are still great for Myanmar’s cyclone victims, says UN-backed group

15 December 2008
A review of the progress made to date to provide humanitarian assistance to the victims of Cyclone Nargis has found that while relief efforts are ongoing, they need to be stepped up, especially to ensure food security, a United Nations-backed group said today.

UN appeals for funds to meet health needs in cyclone-battered Myanmar

10 December 2008
The United Nations has called for funding to help meet health needs in areas of Myanmar that are rebuilding after this May’s devastating Cyclone Nargis which claimed some 140,000 lives and left 800,000 others homeless.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon

Ban voices 'growing frustration' at lack of progress in Myanmar

5 December 2008
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced his growing frustration today that the United Nations' long-standing efforts to promote national reconciliation and democratization in Myanmar have yet to achieve the desired results and he urged the Government to release all political prisoners immediately and initiate “genuine dialogue” with the opposition.
Tomas Ojea Quintana, Special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar

Myanmar: UN rights experts demand new fair trials for jailed political prisoners

18 November 2008
Five independent United Nations experts on human rights today demanded that authorities in Myanmar hold fair and open re-trials for dozens of prisoners of conscience sentenced to lengthy prison terms and immediately release their jailed defence counsels.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Ban voices deep concern at ‘severe’ prison terms for Myanmar demonstrators

12 November 2008
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed his deep concern at reports this week that authorities in Myanmar have issued lengthy jail terms to some participants in last year’s peaceful demonstrations in the Asian country.
Survivors of Cyclone Nargis in the aftermath of the disaster

UNICEF appeals for support six months after cyclone devastates Myanmar

31 October 2008
Six months after deadly Cyclone Nargis swept through Myanmar, leaving around 140,000 dead or missing and some 800,000 homeless, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that emergency relief efforts are on track, but vital support is still needed for the country’s medium to long-term recovery.

Myanmar’s post-cyclone recovery efforts focus of UN-backed expert meeting

28 October 2008
Participants at a United Nations-backed meeting that wrapped up today in Bangkok have agreed that the need to “build back better” and a focus on disaster risk reduction should be key elements of the post-Cyclone Nargis recovery process in Myanmar.
Tomás Ojea Quintana, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar

Full democracy in Myanmar will take generations to achieve – UN expert

23 October 2008
Democracy will take decades to take root in Myanmar, and in the meantime tangible, step-by-step benchmarks should be set up to spur progress in the Asian country, an independent United Nations human rights expert told the General Assembly today.

Enhanced dialogue among all parties vital for Myanmar’s political future – Ban

20 October 2008
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on Myanmar’s Government and opposition to increase dialogue as the Asian country proceeds on the path toward national reconciliation and democratization, once again stressing the need for a credible and inclusive political process.