United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for international efforts to end military violence in Myanmar and to bring the country back to a democracy.

Guterres made the appeal in a statement on Thursday, marking the third anniversary of a military coup in Myanmar.

He said, "Three years since the military overturned the democratically elected government and arbitrarily detained its leaders on 1 February 2021, the crisis in Myanmar continues to deteriorate, with devastating impacts on civilians."

Guterres pointed out that about 18.6 million people in Myanmar, or one-third of the country's population, urgently need humanitarian support this year, compared to one million before the military coup three years ago.

The secretary-general condemned all forms of violence and he called for the protection of civilians and cessation of hostilities.

Guterres said, "The military's campaign of violence targeting civilians and political repression must end, and those responsible should be held to account."