The International Committee of the Red Cross says it has been ordered by the Burmese government to close its offices in the country, BBC Online reports Monday.
In a statement from its headquarters in Geneva, the Red Cross said that humanitarian work for some of Burmas most vulnerable people was now in jeopardy.
The ICRC says it has worked to build constructive dialogue with Burma. But the attempts – aimed at allowing the ICRC to carry out its humanitarian work in the country – have ended in deadlock.
Since December 2005 Burmas military government has refused to allow Red Cross prison visits. Now it has ordered the closure of five ICRC field offices.
In effect the closure of the offices means the organisations work in Burma is now limited to a few rehabilitation projects for amputees. The Red Cross said it was seriously worried that civilians living in sensitive border areas and political prisoners would suffer.
The UN estimates that there are over 1.000 political prisoners in Burma, among them the leader of the democracy movement, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for over a decade.
