The U.N. Credentials Committee renewed the mandate of Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun as Myanmar’s Permanent Representative for another year, despite the military council’s attempts to claim the position. This marks the fourth consecutive year that U Kyaw Moe Tun has been appointed since the military coup. 1

On 17 December, Burma Campaign UK urged Secretary-General António Guterres to press Bangladesh to open a humanitarian corridor to prevent famine in Arakan State. The organization called on Guterres to travel to Bangladesh to negotiate the opening of aid and trade routes into Arakan State, Myanmar. Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK said preventing these crises is the responsibility of the UN Secretary-General.

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has announced that nearly two million people in Arakan State are at risk of starvation, as the region’s food production capacity will only meet 20 percent of the population’s needs. 2

In the report titled “A World out of Balance” released by the ICRC on 11 December, Sudan, Palestine, and Myanmar top the Humanitarian Crisis Ranking. In Myanmar, nearly 900,000 people have been forced to flee their homes, marking a 37% increase from 2023. David Miliband, President of the International Rescue Committee, highlighted the alarming concentration of extreme poverty in these regions. 3

On 10 December, the U.S. government announced sanctions on four Chinese companies for selling aircraft parts to Myanmar. These companies provided parts used by the military council in air attacks against civilians in Myanmar. Two of the sanctioned companies are based in China, while the other two are located in Russia. 4

1 UN renews mandate of Myanmar Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun, Mizziam, 7 December 2024.
2 UN SG urged to act to prevent famine in Arakan State, RFA, 17 December 2024.
3 Myanmar is one of countries most at risk of worsening humanitarian needs, VOA, 12 December 2024.
4 US sanctions four Chinese companies for selling aircraft parts to Myanmar junta, VOA, 11 December 2024.