Rohingya crisis: UN chief Guterres urges global action on 9th anniv of exodus

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for renewed global attention and action to address the plight of the Rohingya.

Rohingya in Myanmar, Bangladesh and across the region face deepening insecurity, a shrinking protection space and diminishing prospects for durable solutions, exacerbated by funding cuts affecting life-saving assistance, said UN chief''s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, quoting the UN chief, at a briefing in New York today.

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Until conditions allow for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of the Rohingya, Guterres called on the international community to continue providing humanitarian assistance, alongside livelihood opportunities and support for self-reliance.

In Myanmar, Rohingya and other communities remain caught in conflict and displacement, facing grave human rights violations and other abuses, including by the Myanmar military, the Arakan Army and others, he said.

The secretary-general reiterated his call for the protection of civilians in accordance with applicable obligations under various international laws.

Guterres appreciated the continued hospitality of Bangladesh and other refugee-hosting countries and called on all states to provide protection to those fleeing Myanmar.

He also expressed alarm over the increasing number of Rohingya perishing at sea and urged regional cooperation on search and rescue, safe disembarkation and action against human trafficking.

Guterres is deeply troubled by rising misinformation, disinformation and hate speech targeting the Rohingya in Myanmar and other countries in the region, Dujarric said.

He urged the international community to strengthen collective action in support of an inclusive and comprehensive political solution that addresses the root causes of Myanmar’s protracted crisis.

Dujarric said the secretary-general’s Special Envoy on Myanmar, Julie Bishop, continues to engage with all stakeholders towards a cessation of violence and the advancement of an inclusive, Myanmar-led and Myanmar-owned political process.