The United Nations has called on the authorities to allow more humanitarian access to the conflict zone in central Shan State, where local aid workers say about 7000 people have fled fighting and air strikes by the Tatmadaw.

A spokesperson in New York for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement yesterday that the UN “has continuously been raising protection concerns in the affected areas and pushing for greater humanitarian access”.

Pierre Peron, spokesperson in Yangon for the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said the UN and its partners were supporting the response of local groups in the area by providing supplies of hygiene kits, clothing, blankets, food, medicine, shelter and water and sanitation.