Rohingya Crisis: ICRC chief to visit Myanmar, Bangladesh

Peter Maurer, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), will visit Myanmar and Bangladesh from June 25 to July 3 to observe ICRC's work in Rakhine State and Cox's Bazar.

He will meet with affected communities and hold meetings with representatives of the Myanmar and Bangladesh governments.

His meetings in Myanmar will include those with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, State Counsellor and U Win Myint, president of Myanmar, said a press release of the ICRC.

The ICRC president, who will arrive in Bangladesh on June 30, is expected to call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, ministers and high government officials at the ministries of home and foreign affairs.

An estimated 700,000 people left Myanmar for Bangladesh after the violence of August 2017, and many others in Rakhine have been displaced. Access to food, healthcare, education and the necessities of life has been difficult for the refugees.

“Humanitarian organisations are doing their best to alleviate the suffering in very difficult circumstances, especially as the monsoon season advances. But ten months on, despite all the talking and all the efforts, too many people are still suffering too much,” said Peter Maurer.

“While the emergency response continues, there must be urgent progress -- from humanitarians, development actors, and the authorities -- on building sustainable solutions.”

Maurer will also hold media briefings on both sides of the border.