UN Secretary-General António Guterres hopes that the high-level conference on Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar will renew global focus and help develop broader solutions for their plight.
The UN chief expressed the hope in a letter to Chief Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday.
The United Nations will continue to mobilise the international community to support Bangladesh as a host to the Rohingya, Guterres said.
“I will continue to exercise my good offices, including through my Special Envoy on the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, to work closely with regional actors, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other stakeholders, towards a political solution to the crisis in Myanmar, including creating conditions conducive to the safe and voluntary return of the Rohingya to Rakhine,” he wrote.
UN Secretary-General to visit Bangladesh on March 13-16
“I have requested my senior managers to provide guidance to the United Nations Country Teams in Bangladesh and Myanmar on how we can maximize humanitarian aid and livelihood support to communities in Rakhine. The United Nations will prioritize engagement on this issue, including through the Emergency Relief Coordinator and the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, a.i. in Myanmar, to enable safe, rapid, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access to those in need in Rakhine and throughout Myanmar.”
“We await the agreed outcomes and plans for the Conference, following Member State consultations, to understand how the United Nations system can best support the process.”
He thanked Dr Yunus for his letter dated 4 February 2025, which was shared with him by High Representative for the Rohingya Crisis and Priority Affairs Khalilur Rahman during their meeting on 7 February.
The UN chief also reiterated the strong solidarity of the United Nations with Bangladesh and their support for the transition process under Dr Yunus’ leadership.
He said he shared Bangladesh’s concerns regarding the impact of the Rohingya crisis on Bangladesh and the region, as well as the worsening humanitarian situation in Rakhine.