Rohingya crisis myanmar calls off un visit rakhine
The Rohingya crisis in Myanmar (also known as Burma) has been a major humanitarian concern for several years. Here's a summary of the recent development:
Myanmar calls off UN visit to Rakhine
On August 26, 2022, Myanmar's military government announced that it was canceling a planned visit by a United Nations team to Rakhine State, where the Rohingya crisis has been unfolding. The UN team, led by the UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, Tom Andrews, was scheduled to visit the region to assess the situation and investigate allegations of human rights abuses.
Background
The Rohingya crisis began in 2017, when a military crackdown in Rakhine State led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims, who were forced to flee to neighboring Bangladesh. The crisis has been marked by widespread human rights abuses, including killings, rape, and arson, which have been documented by human rights organizations and the UN.
Reasons for cancellation
Myanmar's military government cited "security concerns" as the reason for canceling the UN visit. The government claimed that the visit would have compromised national security and stability, and that it would not have been possible to ensure the safety of the UN team.
International reaction
The cancellation of the UN visit has been widely condemned by the international community, including the United States, the European Union, and human rights organizations. They have called on Myanmar's military government to allow the UN team to visit Rakhine State and to cooperate with international efforts to address the humanitarian crisis.
Humanitarian situation
The humanitarian situation in Rakhine State remains dire, with hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims living in camps and facing severe restrictions on their movement and access to basic services. The UN has repeatedly called for unimpeded access to the region to deliver aid and assistance to those in need.
Ongoing challenges
The cancellation of the UN visit highlights the ongoing challenges in addressing the Rohingya crisis. Myanmar's military government has been accused of denying access to the region to international aid workers and human rights investigators, making it difficult to assess the situation and provide assistance to those affected.
The international community continues to urge Myanmar's military government to allow unhindered access to Rakhine State and to cooperate with international efforts to address the humanitarian crisis and promote accountability for human rights abuses.