The World Health Organization yesterday decided to exclude Myanmar from its annual conference in Geneva rather than decide who should be recognized to represent its government.
Both the junta government and the provisional National Unity Government seeking to unseat it had asked for their representatives to attend the 74th World Health Assembly which runs through Tuesday.
The conference is considered one of the most important meetings for cooperation on the COVID-19 pandemic.
The WHO ultimately punted on the issue, proposing that the decision on who should represent Myanmar be postponed. It said it was awaiting guidance from the UN General Assembly.
The National Unity Government, or NUG, on the other hand, which operates under shadow, welcomed the decision.
The United Nations says more than 800 civilians have been killed in Myanmar in the nearly four months since the military coup, including extrajudicial killings.
“In the 115 days since the military coup, 824 civilians, including many women and children, have been killed. Thousands were injured”, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said at a Wednesday news conference based on reports from UN staff in Myanmar.
