United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (Photo: AP) New York(VNA) – Conditions in Rakhine state of Myanmar are not yet met for the safe,voluntary, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingya refugees to their placesof origin or choice, said United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Speaking at a UNmeeting on Myanmar in New York on August 28, the UN leader called forcoordination from members of the UN Security Council in urging Myanmar authoritiesto work with the UN and ensure that UN agencies and partners can accessrefugees immediately in an unlimited and effective manner.
Guterres held thatinternational cooperation is now the key for ensuring all supporting mechanismsare implemented in a realiable, transparent, equal, independent way and makesure all obligations of Myanmar to international law are observed.
He also called forincreasing international sponsorship for crisis response programme in Myanmarwhen capital for the work is still under requirement by 33 percent.
According to the UN,more than 720,000 Rohingya Muslims fled northern Rakhine state to Bangladeshafter Myanmar launched a brutal crackdown in August last year on insurgentsamid accounts of arson, murder and rape at the hands of soldiers and vigilantemobs in the mainly Buddhist country.
In June this year,the Myanmar Government reached an agreement with the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) andthe UN Development Programme to create favourable conditions for Rohingyarefugees to return home.
Currently, some130,000 Rohingya remain in camps in Bangladesh.
The UN leaderstressed that it is necessary to promptly seek measures to help the refugees toreturn their home safely and respectfully in line with international standards.
He affirmed that the UN will continue assistingthe implementation of plans to support the refugees.-VNA
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