UN says Myanmar's mining of metals used in phones is fueling violence against Rohingya people

On August 25, 2026, the UN reported that Myanmar's human rights crisis has hit a new low. Rohingya people face killings, torture, forced recruitment, and forced labor. The UN says illegal mining of rare-earth metals — used in everyday electronics — funds the armed groups behind the violence. Governments must now choose: stop funding the war or keep tech supply chains running.