Myanmar facing ‘bloodbath’ UN envoy tells Security Council

Christine Schraner Burgener warns closed-door briefing of civil war, urges ‘significant’ action to avert ‘catastrophe’.

The United Nations’ envoy on Myanmar implored the Security Council on Wednesday to take action amid an escalating crisis in the Southeast Asian nation, warning of the risk of civil war and an imminent “bloodbath” amid a violent crackdown on anti-coup protests that has left hundreds dead. Christine Schraner Burgener told a closed session of the 15-member council that the generals who seized power on February 1 were not capable of managing the country, and warned the situation on the ground would only worsen, according to comments shared with reporters. “Consider all available tools to take collective action and do what is right, what the people of Myanmar deserve and prevent a multi-dimensional catastrophe in the heart of Asia,” she said.