A UN coordinator has warned that Myanmar risks facing a real humanitarian crisis. The country must address pressing problems of poverty, AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

Naypyidaw (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Myanmar risks facing a real humanitarian crisis. The alarm was sounded by a UN humanitarian coordinator who exhorted the country to face up to its huge problems of poverty, AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

Charles Petrie, who heads the UN Development Programme in Myanmar, said that since arriving in the country in 2003, the United Nations has faced some serious problems including forced labour, trafficking of workers, child soldiers and serious diseases like HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. What’s more, the people are just about managing to survive.

Petrie said: “We are seeing greater internal migration and fragmentation of communities and even families. Our concern is that if there isn't an effort to try to address these urgent situations, it is pushing the situation towards a serious humanitarian crisis. Further, there are areas of chronic malnutrition in Myanmar, especially in children under five.”

The UN Development Programme, with a staff of more than 1,500, operates in 57 townships, focusing particularly in the areas of primary health care, environment and education.

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