Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the political and humanitarian situation in Myanmar, including reports of continued shelling and bombardment of ethnic minorities in Myanmar by the Myanmar military; and if she will make a statement.

The coup has plunged the country into a deep political, economic and humanitarian crisis. Over 14 million people are in humanitarian need, mass displacement is increasing, democratic gains have been reversed, and violence is escalating across the country.

The UK Government condemns any attacks against religious minorities in Myanmar. We also strongly condemn the military coup and the violence against the people of Myanmar. We will continue working with partners to call for an end to violence, unhindered humanitarian access, and the importance of respect for human rights and the protection of civilians. The UK also continues to support ASEAN's leadership on the crisis and calls for the full implementation of the Five Point Consensus.

The UK marked the 1 February one-year anniversary of the military coup in Myanmar by coordinating a private meeting of the UN Security Council, where briefings were provided by ASEAN Special Envoy Sokhonn Prak, UN Special Envoy, Noeleen Heyzer, and OCHA Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Ramesh Rajasingham. We secured a Security Council press statement on 3 February which called for a cessation of violence, full and unhindered humanitarian access and the protection of minorities. The UK also coordinated a Foreign Minister level joint statement with like-minded countries, condemning serious human rights violations by the military. I laid a Written Ministerial Statement in this House on 1 February to update on the UK's response to the political and humanitarian situation in Myanmar.