This photo taken on September 5, 2017 shows Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar arriving at a new camp in Unchiprang near the Bangladeshi border town of Teknaf. — AFP photo
The United Nations Security Council on early Thursday (Bangladesh time) called for immediate steps to end the violence and ensure the protection of civilians in the Rakhine state of Myanmar.
The UNSC made the call in a meeting in New York expressing deep concern about the situation in Rakhine and condemning the violence, which led to the exodus of more than 3,70,000 people in Bangladesh, according to diplomatic sources in New York.
Britain and Sweden requested for discussion in the UNSC on Rakhine situation.
The UNSC members expressed concern about the reports of excessive violence during the security operations and called for immediate steps to end the violence in Rakhine, de-escalate the situation, re-establish law and order, ensure the protection of civilians, restore normal socio-economic condition and resolve the refugee problem.
The UNSC welcomed the government of Bangladesh’s efforts to provide assistance to refugees and also welcomed efforts of the UN and other international organisations to support Bangladesh.
The UNSC members ‘noted the commitments’ made by the Myanmar government to provide humanitarian assistance to all displaced individuals without discrimination.
They called on the Myanmar government to fulfill these commitments, facilitate humanitarian assistance to those in need in Rakhine, and to ensure the protection and safety of humanitarian actors.
They encouraged further dialogue and cooperation among the states concerned.
The UNSC members welcomed the UN secretary general’s efforts to encourage calm in Rakhine.
They agreed on the importance of a long term solution to the situation in Rakhine and called for the implementation of the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine, chaired by Kofi Annan.
They confirmed that the international community ‘stands ready’ to support the Myanmar government with the implementation of the recommendations.
At least 3,79,000 minority Rohingyas, mostly women, children and aged people, fled from violence and persecution during ‘security operations’ by Myanmar military in Rakhine to Bangladesh since August 25, raising a total number of undocumented Myanmar nationals and registered refugees in Bangladesh to about 8,00,000.
Source: New Age