By Hafizur Rahman
September 3, 2025, The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has warned that Myanmar’s human rights situation has further deteriorated, with atrocities against Rohingya Muslims and other minorities continuing at alarming levels. The findings were presented this week at the 60th session of the Human Rights Council.
Grave Abuses Documented
The report covers the period between April 2024 and May 2025, documenting widespread patterns of killings, arbitrary arrests, forced conscription, aerial bombardments, and systematic denial of humanitarian aid. Verified sources confirmed that Myanmar’s military has killed at least 6,764 civilians since the 2021 coup, including more than 800 children, and detained over 22,000 people on political grounds.
Despite international appeals, the junta has intensified its reliance on airstrikes, drone attacks, and paramotor bombings, which accounted for nearly half of civilian deaths during the reporting period.
Disasters Amid Conflict
The March 2025 earthquake, which killed nearly 4,000 people, compounded the crisis. Instead of prioritizing relief, the military launched more than 550 attacks in quake-hit areas. “Despite declaring a unilateral ceasefire, the military persisted in bombing civilians,” the report stated.
Renewed Atrocities Against Rohingya
The Rohingya population in Rakhine State has faced renewed horrors reminiscent of the 2017 genocide. Both the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) were implicated in mass killings, forced recruitment, torture, burnings, and arbitrary arrests. The AA, which now controls most of Rakhine, was identified as the main perpetrator of abuses against Rohingya, including summary executions, mass displacement, and restrictions on movement.
Incidents detailed in the report include the shelling of schools and markets, drone strikes on civilians fleeing towards Bangladesh, and the burning of entire villages. Survivors described scenes of “rivers of blood” and families torn apart in chaos.
UN sources estimate at least 350,000 Rohingya have been newly displaced since late 2023, while more than 118,000 have fled to Bangladesh. Hundreds have died attempting dangerous sea crossings.
Hunger and Restricted Aid
The report warns that 15.2 million people across Myanmar are projected to face acute hunger in 2025. Humanitarian access remains severely restricted, leaving many communities, especially Rohingya, on the brink of famine.
Accountability and International Calls
While the International Criminal Court has moved closer to prosecuting senior Myanmar officials, including junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, the High Commissioner stressed that accountability remains distant. He urged the UN Security Council to fully refer Myanmar to the ICC and called on all armed actors, including the Arakan Army and anti-military groups, to immediately end abuses.
The UN also appealed for increased humanitarian funding, a halt to arms transfers, and safe pathways for Rohingya refugees.
A Crisis Without End
“Civilians in Myanmar are trapped in an endless cycle of violence and impunity,” the report concludes. “The suffering of the Rohingya remains one of the most urgent human rights crises in the world today.”
