YANGON, June 6 (dpa): The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer, has met Myanmar's junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, the first visit by a senior Western official to Myanmar since the February 1 coup.
During the talks on Thursday (June 3), Maurer stressed the importance of his organisation gaining access to remote regions.
The humanitarian situation in the country has significantly worsened since the coup.
"People in Myanmar are in need of urgent assistance and protection," Maurer said according to an ICRC statement.
He asked Min Aung Hlaing to allow ICRC staff to resume visits to detainees, which had been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Maurer also raised the use of force by the security forces.
Since the coup, the army has arrested more than 5,600 people, according to estimates by the prisoners' aid organization AAPP.
According to AAPP, at least 845 people have been killed in a brutal crackdown on resistance to the coup, which ousted the government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate has been under house arrest since then.- dpa
During the talks on Thursday (June 3), Maurer stressed the importance of his organisation gaining access to remote regions.
The humanitarian situation in the country has significantly worsened since the coup.
"People in Myanmar are in need of urgent assistance and protection," Maurer said according to an ICRC statement.
He asked Min Aung Hlaing to allow ICRC staff to resume visits to detainees, which had been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Maurer also raised the use of force by the security forces.
Since the coup, the army has arrested more than 5,600 people, according to estimates by the prisoners' aid organization AAPP.
According to AAPP, at least 845 people have been killed in a brutal crackdown on resistance to the coup, which ousted the government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate has been under house arrest since then.- dpa
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