UN envoy to Myanmar slams bureaucratic hurdles

UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, has said that bureaucratic hurdles are preventing humanitarian actors from helping those facing violence in the country.

She said humanitarian access in Kachin, Shan and northern Rakhine states was worse than during her last visit, Xinhua news agency reported.

Although access was slowly starting to improve in northern Rakhine, it remains mostly limited to national staff, with international staff stuck in towns and being unable to do their jobs, she added.

She also stressed the importance of access to data and evidence in violent areas to deal with the allegations.

Yanghee Lee also denounced the October-November violent attacks on border posts by armed men in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state.

She noted that this was not an inter-communal violence or crisis but was a calculated attack against the sovereignty of Myanmar.

The UN Special Rapporteur ended her 12-day visit to Myanmar on Friday which was her fifth to the country.

She met with State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and other governmental officials during her visit.--IANS

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