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GENEVA (AP) 鈥� Myanmar’s people are already feeling the 鈥渃rushing impact” from the 鈥渟udden, chaotic withdrawal” of U.S. and other humanitarian aid, an independent human rights expert said Monday, calling on the world community to do more.

Tom Andrews, a monitor on rights in Myanmar commissioned by the U.N.-backed Human Rights Council, said he would appeal to its 47 member countries to issue a 鈥渄eclaration of conscience against this unfolding disaster鈥� 鈥� a humanitarian crisis 鈥� 鈥渁nd I will urge them to follow up those words with action.鈥�

鈥淎ction that includes funding vital, life-sustaining programs that are being slashed and burned and jeopardized,鈥� he told reporters on Monday, before addressing the council on Wednesday. 鈥滻f the Human Rights Council does not (take action), then who will?”

Andrews, a former Democratic congressman from the U.S. state of Maine, acknowledged that the specific fallout wasn鈥檛 clear so far. The American embassy in Myanmar said on its website, in a statement dated Oct. 25, that the U.S. had provided since Oct. 1, 2023.

Andrews said the cut in aid was 鈥渦nnecessary and cruel鈥� and ill-timed: A strong movement of national resistance and a weakening of Myanmar’s military rulers has raised hopes of its people.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, 2021, triggering widespread popular opposition. After peaceful demonstrations were put down with lethal force, many opponents of military rule took up arms, and large parts of the country are now embroiled in conflict.

The violence is continuing: An airstrike Friday reportedly killed and injured dozens in a village held by resistance forces.

Tuberculosis and HIV patients have been missing their medication for weeks; disabled children have been locked out of rehabilitation centers; rights groups have faced cuts in their ability to distribute food and water to people, he said.

“The sudden, chaotic withdrawal of support 鈥� support principally by the government of the United States 鈥� is already having a crushing impact on the people of Myanmar,” Andrews said

The Trump administration and many of its supporters have argued that the United States, the world’s single largest humanitarian aid provider, has shouldered too much of the burden for too long.

Andrews alluded to efforts by a chainsaw-wielding Elon Musk through the Department of Government Efficiency to reduce waste and spending in the U.S. government, including at the U.S. Agency for International Development, known as USAID 鈥� which has distributed many billions of dollars in foreign aid over the years.

鈥淵ou have this incredible rhetoric that is based upon nothing except creating headlines,” Andrews said, to show how “this entire program is going to be thrown into a wood chipper … Well, it鈥檚 innocent people who are being tossed into that wood chipper.鈥�

鈥淲e need to take a stand about this,鈥� he added.