The United Kingdom's representative at a private United Nations Security Council session urged Myanmar's military to deescalate and stop attacks on civilians, condemning this month's air strike on a hospital in Joaquin state that "killed more than 30 civilians."

The UK representative said the humanitarian situation in Myanmar is "catastrophic," warning that "over 16,000,000 people will require life saving assistance in 2026" and noting that "the UK has provided over $100,000,000 this fiscal year," while adding that aid can have real impact only if access is granted.

"The military must deescalate and cease its violence, including air strikes on civilians," the representative said, and called for targeted attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure to stop. The statement identified forthcoming updates from "the ASEAN special envoy, Osman Hashim, and the UN special envoy, Julie Bishop."

On the subject of elections, the UK representative said any meaningful vote depends on an end to violence and dialogue among all parties and warned that "there are no indications that the planned elections will be perceived as free or fair." The representative added that elections held under the current circumstances "risk provoking further violence and make a long term solution more elusive."

During a brief question-and-answer exchange, an unidentified speaker raised a separate question on Syria, which the UK representative declined to address at that time. A second unidentified speaker asked directly about the elections scheduled to begin Sunday; the UK representative reiterated that "the conditions for the elections are not... credible" and that the prospects for a free and fair vote were not realistic given the ongoing violence.

The UK said it "stands in solidarity with the people of Myanmar" and reiterated support for ASEAN's central role in pursuing a solution. The representative concluded by saying the UK "will keep the Myanmar crisis on the council's agenda."