As United Nations is deeply concerned at the reports of civilians being killed during security operations in Myanmar's Rakhine state, United Nations secretary-general António Guterres repeated the responsibility of Bangladesh government to offer security and assistance to those in need.
According to a statement from UN Spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, issued from UN headquarter at New York on Monday this latest round of violence comes after the attacks on Myanmar security forces on August 25.
‘The secretary-general, who condemned those attacks, reiterates the significance 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,’ said the statement, adding that Guterres fully supports the recommendations of the report by former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan [as Chair of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine state] and urges the government to effectively implement them.
Recognising that Bangladesh has hosted generously refugees from Myanmar for decades, the secretary-general through the statement went on to appeal for the authorities to continue to allow the Rohingya fleeing violence to seek safety in Bangladesh.
Many of those fleeing are women and children, some of whom are wounded.
‘[Guterres] calls for humanitarian agencies to be granted unfettered and free access to affected communities in need of assistance and protection,’ the statement concluded, adding that the UN stands ready to provide all necessary support to both Myanmar and Bangladesh in that regard.
António Guterres made the statement when Reuters reported that at least 109 people have been killed in the clashes in Myanmar, most of them militants but including members of the security forces and civilians.
In the meantime, UN refugee ggency UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards at press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, on Tuesday urged Bangladesh to continue to allow Rohingyas fleeing violence to seek safety there.
‘Bangladesh has hosted refugees from Myanmar for decades, and UNHCR believes it is of the utmost importance that it continue to allow Rohingya fleeing violence to seek safety there,’ UNHCR spokesperson said.