The living conditions of 140,000 internally displaced people in
Rakhine State remain bleak, according to a report released on Monday by
the UN.
“Humanitarian assistance is a temporary
measure to respond to immediate needs. Sustainable solutions must be
found to restore a lasting peace and harmony between the people of
Rakhine State,” said Ashok Nigam, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in
Myanmar in a statement.
Currently food and
temporary shelters are being provided by humanitarian agencies, but
there are issues that need to be urgently addressed such as children’s
education and trust building between the communities.
“Reconciliation
between communities is the larger priority,” said Nigam. “The root
causes of the tensions that exist between the people must be addressed.
Inter-communal tensions fuel fear and
resentment. Left unresolved, they will drive communities further
apart.”
Nigam also called for the citizenship status of Rohingya Muslims in the state to be addressed.
“The
consequences of statelessness for Muslims in Rakhine State continue to
have a direct effect on fundamental human rights, and the social and
economic development of Myanmar,” he said.
Since
fighting first erupted in the western Myanmar state last June, 167
people have died and more than 10,000 buildings destroyed, according to
the UN report.
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