This is a
summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards – to whom quoted
text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in
Geneva.
18 November
2016
UNHCR is
deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of civilians in the northern
part of Rakhine state, Myanmar. We are urging the government of Myanmar to
ensure the protection and dignity of all civilians on its territory in
accordance with the rule of law and its international obligations.
We appeal
for calm and for humanitarian access to assess and meet the needs of thousands
of people who have reportedly been displaced from their homes by the ongoing
security operation. The affected population is believed to be in urgent need of
food, shelter and medical care.
UNHCR urges
the government of Myanmar to immediately allow humanitarian actors to resume
the life-saving activities they had been carrying out for some 160,000
civilians in northern Rakhine State until such activities were suspended on 9
October.
We are also
appealing to the government of Bangladesh to keep its border with Myanmar open
and allow safe passage to any civilians from Myanmar fleeing violence.
For more
information on this topic, please contact:
In Bangkok,
Vivian Tan, tanv@unhcr.org, +66 818 270 280
In Geneva,
Babar Baloch, baloch@unhcr.org, +41 79 513 9549