A/HRC/4/14 page 17 69. Since 2005, new restrictions have been placed on actors in the humanitarian field. These restrictions, in the context of the complicated environment and pressure from outside lobbyists, have been used as a pretext for the withdrawal of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which has been deeply deplored by the Special Rapporteur and the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. The withdrawal of Médecins Sans Frontières (France) at the end of 2005, owing to access restrictions, has further complicated the humanitarian situation. 70. The Government of Myanmar in late November ordered the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to close its five field offices in the country. While the Government is reconsidering its decision to close the offices, ICRC is still not in a position to operate according to its standard modalities. 71. The restrictive guidelines for United Nations agencies and international organizations announced by the Government in February 2006 added to the current difficulty for humanitarian workers seeking access to project areas and to operate independently, in accordance with internationally accepted standards. Although the Special Rapporteur recently received information about some positive signs of progress, there is still an urgent need for the Government of Myanmar to demonstrate some flexibility. In that regard, the Special Rapporteur encourages the Government to ensure that humanitarian agencies can operate in a mutually agreeable environment, in accordance with the guiding principles provided by the United Nations Country Team on 7 March 2006. 72. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the launching of the Three-Disease Fund,1 which will provide funding roughly equivalent to that of the Global Fund that should soon start flowing to implementing agencies. This shows that donors still have an important commitment to humanitarian aid in Myanmar. The Special Rapporteur encourages the provision of humanitarian assistance to Myanmar. He also believes that there must be transparency and accountability in the monitoring of the provision of humanitarian assistance to ensure that it is not misused for personal and individual gains. In addition, Myanmar nationals employed by agencies working in the country must be afforded protection from any form of threats and intimidation for their work on humanitarian assistance and development programmes. 73. The Special Rapporteur welcomed the recent appointment of the Resident Coordinator as Humanitarian Coordinator. He believes that the formal engagement of the humanitarian sector of the United Nations Secretariat will provide stronger essential support in ensuring the integrity and independence of ongoing efforts. 1 See “Myanmar plans to launch substitute fund to fight TB, Malaria, HIV/AIDS after global fund grants suspended”, June 2006, at http://www.medicalnewstoday.com.