UN joins US calling for accountability for atrocities against Rohingyas

Rohingya children, youths may fall victims to trafficking: UNICEF

The United Nations has joined the United States stressing the need for accountability for the atrocities orchestrated by the Myanmar security forces against the Rohingya Muslim population in Rakhine State. Meanwhile, in a report released by UNICEF, the global body’s agency working for children, warned that due to the chaotic situation of the camps, Rohingya youths and children may be victims of trafficking and manipulation. “They have very specific mandates, and it's their… it is within their prerogative and their responsibility to speak out. I think the secretary-general has been very clear in outlining what has happened in Myanmar, especially in the northern Rakhine state,” Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary general, told a regular briefing on Thursday in New York when asked if the global associates agree with the findings of the two special advisers, who said on Wednesday that genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity are taking place in the northern Rakhine state by the Myanmar security forces and that the perpetrators must be held accountable. He, however, said, “And, obviously, there will be need for accountability for what has happened.”

On Wednesday, US secretary of state Rex Tillerson said in Washington, “The world can’t just stand idly by and be witness to the atrocities that are being reported in the area. We really hold the military leadership accountable for what’s happening.”

He said that Washington is “extraordinarily concerned” by the situation in Rakhine. To a question regarding the Tillerson statement at the daily press briefing at the state department on Thursday, Heather Nauert, the department’s spokesperson, said that the US has been ‘extremely engaged in what has been going on there’.

She said that Washington has been ‘incredibly committed’ to the issue and “….continue to call upon the government (of Myanmar) to allow in more humanitarian aid groups and to allow in more reporters so that we can more accurately get information on the ground.”

About the process of ascertaining if ethnic cleansing is taking place in Rakhine, the spokesperson said, “Those types of reviews take a lot of time.”

Neither the UN nor the US, however, has mentioned whether any action will be taken against any of the Myanmar security forces.

Urging the donors to support humanitarian appeals ahead of international pledging conference on Monday in Geneva, UNICEF said yesterday that desperate living conditions and waterborne diseases are threatening more than 320,000 Rohingya refugee children who have fled to southern Bangladesh since late August, including some 10,000 who crossed from Myanmar over the past few days.

In a newly-released report titled ‘Outcast and Desperate: Rohingya refugee children face a perilous future’, UNICEF said that most of the refugees are living in overcrowded and in-sanitary makeshift settlements. Despite an expanding international aid effort led by the Government of Bangladesh, the essential needs of many children are not being met.

The report also said that in the chaotic setting of the camps, children and youth could fall prey to traffickers and others looking to exploit and manipulate them.

“Many Rohingya refugee children in Bangladesh have witnessed atrocities in Myanmar no child should ever see, and all have suffered tremendous loss,” said UNICEF executive director Anthony Lake.

“These children urgently need food, safe water, sanitation, and vaccinations to protect them from diseases that thrive in emergencies. But they also need help in overcoming all they have endured. They need education. They need counselling. They need hope,” he said.

“If we don’t provide them with these things now, how will they ever grow up to be productive citizens of their societies? This crisis is stealing their childhoods. We must not let it steal their futures at the same time,” he added.

Well over half a million Rohingya people have crossed into Bangladesh’s southern district of Cox’s Bazaar since late August after escaping horrific violence in neighbouring Myanmar.

 

UN joins US calling for accountability for atrocities against Rohingyas

Rohingya children, youths may fall victims to trafficking: UNICEF

The United Nations has joined the United States stressing the need for accountability for the atrocities orchestrated by the Myanmar security forces against the Rohingya Muslim population in Rakhine State. Meanwhile, in a report released by UNICEF, the global bodys agency working for children, warned that due to the chaotic situation of the camps, Rohingya youths and children may be victims of trafficking and manipulation. They have very specific mandates, and its their it is within their prerogative and their responsibility to speak out. I think the secretary-general has been very clear in outlining what has happened in Myanmar, especially in the northern Rakhine state, Stphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary general, told a regular briefing on Thursday in New York when asked if the global associates agree with the findings of the two special advisers, who said on Wednesday that genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity are taking place in the northern Rakhine state by the Myanmar security forces and that the perpetrators must be held accountable. He, however, said, And, obviously, there will be need for accountability for what has happened. On Wednesday, US secretary of state Rex Tillerson said in Washington, The world cant just stand idly by and be witness to the atrocities that are being reported in the area. We really hold the military leadership accountable for whats happening. He said that Washington is extraordinarily concerned by the situation in Rakhine. To a question regarding the Tillerson statement at the daily press briefing at the state department on Thursday, Heather Nauert, the departments spokesperson, said that the US has been extremely engaged in what has been going on there. She said that Washington has been incredibly committed to the issue and .continue to call upon the government (of Myanmar) to allow in more humanitarian aid groups and to allow in more reporters so that we can more accurately get information on the ground. About the process of ascertaining if ethnic cleansing is taking place in Rakhine, the spokesperson said, Those types of reviews take a lot of time. Neither the UN nor the US, however, has mentioned whether any action will be taken against any of the Myanmar security forces. Urging the donors to support humanitarian appeals ahead of international pledging conference on Monday in Geneva, UNICEF said yesterday that desperate living conditions and waterborne diseases are threatening more than 320,000 Rohingya refugee children who have fled to southern Bangladesh since late August, including some 10,000 who crossed from Myanmar over the past few days. In a newly-released report titled Outcast and Desperate: Rohingya refugee children face a perilous future, UNICEF said that most of the refugees are living in overcrowded and in-sanitary makeshift settlements. Despite an expanding international aid effort led by the Government of Bangladesh, the essential needs of many children are not being met. The report also said that in the chaotic setting of the camps, children and youth could fall prey to traffickers and others looking to exploit and manipulate them. Many Rohingya refugee children in Bangladesh have witnessed atrocities in Myanmar no child should ever see, and all have suffered tremendous loss, said UNICEF executive director Anthony Lake. These children urgently need food, safe water, sanitation, and vaccinations to protect them from diseases that thrive in emergencies. But they also need help in overcoming all they have endured. They need education. They need counselling. They need hope, he said. If we dont provide them with these things now, how will they ever grow up to be productive citizens of their societies? This crisis is stealing their childhoods. We must not let it steal their futures at the same time, he added. Well over half a million Rohingya people have crossed into Bangladeshs southern district of Coxs Bazaar since late August after escaping horrific violence in neighbouring Myanmar.