Secretary-General welcomes agreement to de-escalate conflict in Myanmar's Kachin state
Listen /
A UNHCR-supported camp for internally displaced people near Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin state in northern Myanmar.© UNHCR/A.Kirchhof
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed an agreement aimed at reducing the violent conflict in Kachin state in northern Myanmar.
Myanmar's Peacemaking Committee and representatives from the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) this week announced their agreement to work on a framework to de-escalate the conflict.
A unilateral ceasefire was declared last month in Kachin, where thousands of people have fled their homes since fighting began more than a year ago between government and rebel forces.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson on Wednesday, Mr. Ban urged the parties to continue efforts towards genuine and sustainable peace.
Meanwhile, Vijay Nambiar, who is Mr. Ban's Special Advisor on Myanmar, was in the country for discussions on the situation in Kachin and related developments.
The envoy welcomed government assurances of the resumption of access to the state by the UN and international aid agencies to assist the displaced people.
Dianne Penn, United Nations.
Duration: 59″
