On Wednesday, the United Nations Security Council condemned the massacre that took place in Myanmar last week, which killed more than 30 people, including two employees of Save the Children, and blamed the military council forces in the country for it.

The killings occurred on Christmas Eve in eastern Kayah state, where insurgents fought the military, which overthrew the elected administration in February.

In a statement released Wednesday evening, Security Council members "stressed the need to ensure accountability for this act." They also demanded an immediate cessation of all violence and emphasized the importance of respecting human rights and ensuring civilian safety.

It read that "at least 35 people" were killed in the attack, including four children and two members of the Save the Children charity staff.

The Security Council also "stressed the need for safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to all people in need, and for the full protection, safety and security of humanitarian and medical personnel."

Following the attack, fighters said they discovered more than 30 charred bodies, including women and children, on a highway in Kayah State.

Save the Children, which employs about 900 people in Burma, confirmed the killing of its employees in a statement issued on Tuesday, in which it stated that the soldiers "forced people out of their cars, arrested some of them, killed many and burned their bodies." 

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Bloody coup 

Following the attack, more than 30 burned bodies, including those of women and children, were discovered on a highway in Kayah State. The two Save the Children employees had been reported missing, and the rights organization confirmed on Tuesday they were among the dead.

According to a local monitoring group, Myanmar has been in chaos since the February coup, with more than 1,300 people killed in a crackdown by security forces.

Is an arms embargo feasible?

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday in a statement that "the international community must also do more to advance this goal and help prevent the recurrence of atrocities in Burma, including by supporting justice and accountability and ending the sale of arms and dual-use technology to the military."

We condemn the Burmese security forces’ abhorrent violence against the people of Burma & will continue to promote accountability for those responsible. We stand firmly with the courageous people of Burma & encourage all countries to speak with one voice in support of their will.

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) February 28, 2021

Western countries have long restricted arms sales to Myanmar's military, which has been accused of crimes against humanity over its bloody crackdown on the Rohingya minority even during its democratic transition.

The UN General Assembly voted in June to prevent arms shipments into Myanmar, but the measure was symbolic as it was not taken up by the more powerful Security Council.

EU supports arms embargo on Myanmar

According to officials, Australia's former parliament building caught fire during a rights protest on Thursday, causing only minor damage.

"In view of the escalating violence in Myanmar, increased international preventive action is required, including an arms embargo," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.