UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews warned of the likelihood of mass deaths from hunger and disease as a result of fighting between rebel groups and junta forces in the east of the coup-stricken country.

According to a local watchdog group, Myanmar is in chaos, with its economy paralyzed after the February putsch and a brutal military crackdown on dissent that killed more than 800 people.

Fighting has flared up in several communities - especially in villages where many have been killed by the police - and some local residents have formed defense forces. Clashes have increased in Kaya state near the Thai border in recent weeks.