Red Cross says volunteers hurt in Myanmar protests

Red Cross volunteers have been injured while helping people hurt in violence in Myanmar, where security forces are cracking down on pro-democracy protests, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said on Friday.

At least 55 people have been killed in Myanmar since a Feb. 1 military coup, according to a United Nations tally. More than 1,700 people have been arrested and many people, including medics, have been beaten by members of the security forces.

"There have been very serious incidents where Red Cross volunteers were injured and wrongfully arrested. Red Cross ambulances have also been damaged," Alexander Matheou, the IFRC's Asia Pacific regional director, said in a statement.

Read more: Refugees trickle away from Myanmar turmoil into India

Matheou said the injured Myanmar Red Cross volunteers had been providing life-saving treatment to wounded people in line with fundamental principles of humanity, neutrality and impartiality.

"Red Cross volunteers should never be targeted," he said.

"The IFRC urges restraint and a halt to violence across Myanmar."

Video footage emerged this week of police severely beating three members of a Myanmar volunteer ambulance service. Reuters was not able to verify the footage.

A spokesman for the ruling military council has not commented on the video and did not answer telephone calls seeking comment on Friday.