Bureaucratic hurdles prevent humanitarian actors in Myanmar: UN envoy

UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Yanghee Lee said on Friday evening that bureaucratic hurdles prevent the humanitarian actors from helping suffering individuals in the country's violent area.

In Kachin, Shan and northern Rakhine states, humanitarian access is worse than in her last visit. Although access is slowly starting to improve in northern Rakhine state, it remains mostly limited to national staff, with international staff stuck in towns and being unable to do their jobs, she said.

She 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 a 12-day visit to Myanmar Friday which was her fifth to the country. She met with State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and other governmental officials during her visit. Enditem