The economic fallout from Myanmar’s coup and the deadly crackdown on pro-democracy protesters amid a coronavirus pandemic threaten to plunge 12 million people into poverty, the UN said on Friday.
A study by the UN’s Development Programme (UNDP) said the double whammy of Covid-19 and Myanmar's political crisis, triggered by a military coup on February 1, could leave about half the population, some 25 million people, in poverty by 2022.
The report came amid heightened efforts by UN diplomats and South-East Asian leaders to bring an end to the violence in Myanmar, where activists say more than 750 people have been killed in the military’s brutal post-coup crackdown.
“Without functioning democratic institutions, Myanmar faces a tragic and avoidable backslide towards levels of poverty not seen in a generation,” said UNDP administrator Achim Steiner.
By the end of last year, some 83 per cent of households had reported their incomes had been cut almost in half due to the pandemic, said the UNDP's 26-page study, Covid-19, Coup d'Etat and Poverty.
The number of people living in poverty has risen by 11 per cent due to Covid-19 and may quickly grow another 12 per cent amid the turmoil of mass protests, strikes and the violent suppression of demonstrators by security forces.
Poverty in the capital Naypyitaw, Yangon, Mandalay and other urban areas is expected to triple, while the putsch-fuelled chaos has fractured supply chains and hindered flows of people, services and goods, researchers said.
Pressure on Myanmar's currency, the kyat, has pushed up the price of imports and energy, the report said, while the banking system has been paralysed amid a series of workplace walkouts.
“In the space of 12 years, from 2005 to 2017, Myanmar managed to nearly halve the number of people living in poverty,” said Mr Steiner.
“The challenges of the past 12 months have put all of these hard-won development gains at risk.”
The European Union’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Josep Borrell, on Friday said the bloc was ready to offer its support to all parties to help restore democracy, in response to last week’s crisis talks between Asean leaders.
The UN envoy to Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, again briefed the UN Security Council on Friday on the issue.
After the closed-door talks, India’s UN ambassador T S Tirumurti called for the “release of detained leaders and an end to violence”.
The Security Council has condemned the violence against protesters, but has not called the military takeover a coup or threatened any reprisals, due to opposition from China, Russia and other members.
UN spokesman Farhan Haq on Friday called for the release of political detainees and respect for human rights and, in answer to a question from The National, said council members "have a role to play in putting up a united front".
The UNDP report showed the “steep economic costs the people of Myanmar are paying for the deterioration since February 1, and that tells you a lot about why it is to the advantage of all sides to get back to the situation that we had in place beforehand,” Mr Haq said.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, detained her and other civilian politicians, then cracked down with lethal force on anti-coup protesters.
MATCH INFO
Tottenham Hotspur 1
Kane (50')
Newcastle United 0
Company Profile
Founders: Tamara Hachem and Yazid Erman
Based: Dubai
Launched: September 2019
Sector: health technology
Stage: seed
Investors: Oman Technology Fund, angel investor and grants from Sharjah's Sheraa and Ma'an Abu Dhabi
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Arabian Gulf League fixtures:
Friday:
- Emirates v Hatta, 5.15pm
- Al Wahda v Al Dhafra, 5.25pm
- Al Ain v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, 8.15pm
Saturday:
- Dibba v Ajman, 5.15pm
- Sharjah v Al Wasl, 5.20pm
- Al Jazira v Al Nasr, 8.15pm
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Specs
Price, base: Dhs850,000
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 591bhp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.3L / 100km
HAJJAN
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Abu%20Bakr%20Shawky%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3EStarring%3A%20Omar%20Alatawi%2C%20Tulin%20Essam%2C%20Ibrahim%20Al-Hasawi%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
SPECS%3A%20Polestar%203
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELong-range%20dual%20motor%20with%20400V%20battery%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E360kW%20%2F%20483bhp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E840Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20automatic%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20touring%20range%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20628km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E0-100km%2Fh%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.7sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20210kph%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh360%2C000%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeptember%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Canada
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FORSPOKEN
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Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
The specs: 2018 Jeep Compass
Price, base: Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.4L four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.4L / 100km
