The UK’s Special Envoy for Myanmar has described the mounting civilian death toll in the country as “appalling”, as the British government announced a fresh round of sanctions targeting the military junta’s revenue streams. The remarks come amid escalating violence following the junta’s latest crackdown on resistance forces.
Speaking to reporters in London, the envoy stated that the number of civilian casualties continues to rise at an alarming rate. Independent monitors estimate that over 3,000 civilians have been killed since the military seized power in February 2021. The true figure is likely higher, with many deaths going unreported due to communication blackouts and restricted access for humanitarian organisations.
“The scale of suffering is appalling,” the envoy said. “We are witnessing systematic attacks on civilians, including airstrikes on villages and hospitals. This is a crisis of the junta’s own making, and it demands a coordinated international response.”
The UK’s new sanctions target entities that provide financial support to the junta, including state-owned enterprises in the oil and gas sector, as well as companies linked to arms procurement. These measures aim to choke off the flow of hard currency that funds the regime’s military operations.
“This is a deliberate strategy to degrade the junta’s capacity to wage war against its own people,” a Foreign Office official said. “We are cutting off the revenue streams that enable these atrocities.”
The UK has already imposed sanctions on over 60 individuals and entities tied to the Myanmar military. The latest round adds 12 more targets, including key officials from the junta-aligned Union Election Commission and senior commanders involved in human rights abuses.
However, experts caution that sanctions alone are unlikely to halt the violence. The junta has deep ties with other powers, including Russia and China, which continue to provide diplomatic cover and economic support. Moreover, the junta has diversified its funding sources, including through illicit trades in gems and timber.
“Sanctions are a necessary but insufficient tool,” said Dr. Thant Myint-U, a historian and former UN official. “Without a unified global front, including pressure from Beijing and New Delhi, the junta will withstand economic isolation.”
The UK envoy acknowledged these limitations but stressed the importance of sustained pressure. “We are working with our allies to explore every avenue, including at the UN Security Council. The junta must understand that its actions have consequences.”
The humanitarian situation in Myanmar continues to deteriorate. Over 1.2 million people have been displaced, and the economy has contracted sharply. The junta has also restricted aid access, leaving millions without food or medical care.
“The world must not look away,” the envoy concluded. “Every day of delay means more lives lost.”
