Myanmar

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

Recounting the haunting stories of Rohingya refugees they met during a recent mission to Bangladesh and Myanmar, Security Council members today described mass rapes, attacks on children and the razing of entire villages, stressing that the visit had “awakened their collective conscience” into robust and concerted action.

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Joanna Wronecka (Poland):

After decades of displacement, 93 refugees in Thailand have returned to south-eastern Myanmar with the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and its partners.

The UN Mission in the Central African Republic reports that the situation in Bangui is tense and evolving, with violence and casualties reported in the capital’s Second and Third districts.  The Mission immediately deployed patrols to protect civilians and secure key points, in close cooperation with authorities.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan is warning today that a surge in violent clashes in Unity, Jonglei and Central Equatoria States is having a devastating impact on thousands of civilians and on humanitarian agencies.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Christine Schraner Burgener of Switzerland as his new Special Envoy on Myanmar.

On Myanmar, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that the situation in Rakhine State remains extremely concerning.  There are continued reports of departures from northern Rakhine, and some reports of threats and extortion against Muslim communities.

Today is World Malaria Day and on this occasion, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recalls that every two minutes, a child dies of malaria.  Although preventable and treatable, malaria remains a major public health problem and the number of cases worldwide is growing.

Drought hits the Sahel region hard, with more than 10 million people expected to need emergency food assistance, up from 7.1 million currently, if adequate assistance is not provided in time. Poor rains in 2017 are now deeply affecting parts of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal.