U.N. official expresses ‘great concern’ over Rakhine conflict

14 May 2019
U.N. official expresses ‘great concern’ over Rakhine conflict
Ursula Mueller (C), Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), visits the Dar Pyi internally displacepersons (IDP) in Sittwe, Rakhine State, Myanmar, 13 May 2019. Photo: Nyunt Win/EPA

The U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Ursula Mueller Monday expressed great concern about new fighting erupting in Myanmar’s Rakhine and Chin states, RFA reported.

Mueller’s remarks, which called for protection and assistance for civilians, were made on her Twitter account on day five of her second official visit to Myanmar. They were accompanied by an infographic showing areas of Myanmar with large numbers of people who have been displaced since fighting between Myanmar’s military and the Arakan Army (AA) broke out in November 2018.

Mueller said that her request to visit refugees displaced by the fighting was rejected by Myanmar’s government. An official from OCHA told reporters in Sittwe that the request was denied because of security reasons, while adding that a statement would be issued at the end of her visit.