Myanmar rights crisis hits ‘new low’, UN says

Myanmar’s human rights situation has fallen to a “new low”, the UN human rights office warned on August 25, saying illegal mining and scam centres are helping drive the crisis.

The UN office denounced what it called worsening abuse of the Rohingya minority and said illicit economies, including rare earth mining, drug production, human trafficking and scam centres, were multiplying human rights harms.

The report covered the period from June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026. UN rights chief Volker Turk said it showed “suffering, misery, and cruelty on multiple levels and across the country”. He called on states, companies and investors to examine whether their actions or inaction were fair to Myanmar’s people.

Myanmar’s military seized power on February 1, 2021, ousting Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government. More than 100,000 people are estimated to have been killed across all sides over the past five years as the military has fought pro-democracy and ethnic minority rebels.

The UN report said the military’s pursuit of control and legitimacy had deepened civilian suffering and humanitarian concerns. It highlighted airstrikes, arson attacks, displacement and the use of new technologies to expand surveillance.

The report said the military and the Arakan Army, an ethnic minority rebel group, were committing widespread and systematic abuses against the Rohingya.

James Rodehaver, head of the UN rights office’s Myanmar team, said local communities had become increasingly dependent on scam centres. He said the centres were building roads, schools and freshwater wells to strengthen local acceptance.

The report said financial investigations pointed to illicit gains and impunity. It said limited official records suggested mining extraction was largely for the neighbouring Chinese market, with trade flows peaking at $1.4 billion in 2023.

Mining operations are sending large amounts of hazardous chemicals into local waterways, causing severe pollution and harming reproductive health, the UN report said.

Coup leader Min Aung Hlaing took over as Myanmar’s civilian president in April after giving up the post of armed forces chief to a key aide. He has sought greater diplomatic recognition abroad, including through trips to India, China, Laos and Thailand.