Rohingya people walk towards the makeshift shelter near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Cox’s Bazar. Reuters
United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres has urged the Bangladesh authorities to continue to allow the Rohingyas fleeing violence to seek safety in Bangladesh.
The UN chief made the appeal recognising that Bangladesh has hosted generously refugees from Myanmar for decades.
“The secretary general is deeply concerned at the reports of civilians being killed during security operations in Myanmar’s Rakhine State,” spokesman for the secretary general Stephane Dujarric quoted the UN chief as saying.
“The United Nations stands ready to provide all the necessary support to both Myanmar and Bangladesh in that regard,” he said.
The secretary general fully supports the recommendations of the report by Kofi Annan and urges the government to effectively implement them, he said.
This latest round of violence comes after the attacks on Myanmar security forces on 25 August.
The UN secretary general, who condemned those attacks, reiterated the importance of addressing the root causes of the violence and the responsibility of the government of Myanmar to provide security and assistance to those in need, according to the statement issued on Myanmar a copy of which UNB obtained.
“Many of those fleeing are women and children, some of whom are wounded,” said the spokesperson.
The UN chief called for humanitarian agencies to be granted unfettered and free access to affected communities in need of assistance and protection.
Source: Prothom Alo
