Tillerson to visit Myanmar Nov 15

Act to resolve Rohingya crisis

UNHCR urges UNSC as many Rohingyas waiting to cross into Bangladesh

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has called upon the Security Council to act to resolve the Rohingya crisis, which has led Bangladesh in a very challenging situation. He also called for resolving other crises related to forcibly displaced persons across the globe. Meantime, the UN is saying that many Rohingyas are waiting to cross into Bangladesh to escape the ongoing atrocities in Rakhine State by the Myanmar security forces and local Buddhist mobs.

In another development, United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will travel to Myanmar on November 15 to discuss the Rohingya issue with the leadership of that country. “A few weeks ago, I was in Bangladesh, at the border with Myanmar – witnessing the most rapid refugee exodus since the massive population movements of the mid-1990s. It was a stark illustration of what happens when the root causes of conflict and violence are not addressed, and the relationship between a state and some of its people breaks down,” UNHCR Grandi said while briefing the Security Council on the refugees and forcibly displaced people across the globe on Thursday.

“The result is a human tragedy on a dramatic scale,” he said, posing a question, “Have we become unable to broker peace?” “Giving hope to millions of uprooted people, and avoiding a repeat of recent, massive outflows, ultimately rests on political solutions. Mr. President, members of the Security Council, we – they, the uprooted people – are counting on your leadership to help deliver those solutions,” Grandi said.

In Myanmar, security, and the establishment of respect for human rights and the rule of law in Rakhine State are essential pre-requisites for the return of refugees, said the UN Refugee Agency chief, adding that progress on citizenship for the stateless Rohingya is absolutely crucial, as will be community reconciliation and investment in inclusive development benefiting all communities.

“The Rakhine Advisory Commission recommendations are a recognised blueprint in these respects,” he said.

Grandi also said that it is critical that the UN, ASEAN and the international community at large work constructively to assist both countries – Bangladesh and Myanmar.

“UNHCR stands ready to provide support and expertise, including through the Joint Working Group discussed in bilateral talks between Bangladesh and Myanmar. We believe that our role is critical to ensure that international standards are met, and returns are sustainable, and I seek the Council’s support, Mr President, in conveying this to the concerned states,” he said.

“Our colleagues at OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) say that the rate of Rohingya refugees entering Bangladesh from Myanmar has slowed in recent days, though there are reports that several thousand are believed to be waiting to cross into Bangladesh,” said Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general told a regular briefing in New York on Thursday.

“As of this past weekend, 607,000 refugees had arrived in Cox’s Bazar since 25 August — roughly equivalent to the entire urban population of Copenhagen [Denmark] — bringing the total number of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh to well over 800,000 people,” he said.

The spokesperson also informed that a senior official from the UN Refugee Agency, assistant high commissioner for protection Volker Türk, has wrapped up a visit to Myanmar.

In Naypyidaw, he met with government officials, urging them to allow unrestricted humanitarian access to communities in need, and for the voluntary return of Rohingya refugees in safety and dignity.

Türk welcomed the government’s renewed commitment to rapidly implement the recommendations of the advisory commission on RakhineState, which was chaired by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

A press statement issued by Heather Nauert, the spokesperson of the state department, on Thursday announced the visit of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to Myanmar on November 15. The secretary will travel to Naypyidaw where he will meet and consult with senior leaders and officials on actions to address the humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State and US support for Burma’s democratic transition, it said.

 

Tillerson to visit Myanmar Nov 15

Act to resolve Rohingya crisis

UNHCR urges UNSC as many Rohingyas waiting to cross into Bangladesh

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has called upon the Security Council to act to resolve the Rohingya crisis, which has led Bangladesh in a very challenging situation. He also called for resolving other crises related to forcibly displaced persons across the globe. Meantime, the UN is saying that many Rohingyas are waiting to cross into Bangladesh to escape the ongoing atrocities in Rakhine State by the Myanmar security forces and local Buddhist mobs. In another development, United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will travel to Myanmar on November 15 to discuss the Rohingya issue with the leadership of that country. A few weeks ago, I was in Bangladesh, at the border with Myanmar witnessing the most rapid refugee exodus since the massive population movements of the mid-1990s. It was a stark illustration of what happens when the root causes of conflict and violence are not addressed, and the relationship between a state and some of its people breaks down, UNHCR Grandi said while briefing the Security Council on the refugees and forcibly displaced people across the globe on Thursday. The result is a human tragedy on a dramatic scale, he said, posing a question, Have we become unable to broker peace? Giving hope to millions of uprooted people, and avoiding a repeat of recent, massive outflows, ultimately rests on political solutions. Mr. President, members of the Security Council, we they, the uprooted people are counting on your leadership to help deliver those solutions, Grandi said. In Myanmar, security, and the establishment of respect for human rights and the rule of law in Rakhine State are essential pre-requisites for the return of refugees, said the UN Refugee Agency chief, adding that progress on citizenship for the stateless Rohingya is absolutely crucial, as will be community reconciliation and investment in inclusive development benefiting all communities. The Rakhine Advisory Commission recommendations are a recognised blueprint in these respects, he said. Grandi also said that it is critical that the UN, ASEAN and the international community at large work constructively to assist both countries Bangladesh and Myanmar. UNHCR stands ready to provide support and expertise, including through the Joint Working Group discussed in bilateral talks between Bangladesh and Myanmar. We believe that our role is critical to ensure that international standards are met, and returns are sustainable, and I seek the Councils support, Mr President, in conveying this to the concerned states, he said. Our colleagues at OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) say that the rate of Rohingya refugees entering Bangladesh from Myanmar has slowed in recent days, though there are reports that several thousand are believed to be waiting to cross into Bangladesh, said Stphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general told a regular briefing in New York on Thursday. As of this past weekend, 607,000 refugees had arrived in Coxs Bazar since 25 August roughly equivalent to the entire urban population of Copenhagen [Denmark] bringing the total number of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh to well over 800,000 people, he said. The spokesperson also informed that a senior official from the UN Refugee Agency, assistant high commissioner for protection Volker Trk, has wrapped up a visit to Myanmar. In Naypyidaw, he met with government officials, urging them to allow unrestricted humanitarian access to communities in need, and for the voluntary return of Rohingya refugees in safety and dignity. Trk welcomed the governments renewed commitment to rapidly implement the recommendations of the advisory commission on RakhineState, which was chaired by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. A press statement issued by Heather Nauert, the spokesperson of the state department, on Thursday announced the visit of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to Myanmar on November 15. The secretary will travel to Naypyidaw where he will meet and consult with senior leaders and officials on actions to address the humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State and US support for Burmas democratic transition, it said.