President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Peter Maurer will visit Myanmar and Bangladesh later this month — to observe the ICRC’s work in Rakhine State and Cox’s Bazar, respectively.
Maurer will visit the countries from June 25 to July 3. He will stay in Bangladesh from June 30 to July 3.
Maurer will meet the affected communities and hold meetings with representatives of the Myanmar and Bangladesh governments, the ICRC said in a press release.
It said the ICRC president’s itinerary includes meetings with Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint.
Maurer will meet Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and hold talks with officials of the foreign and home ministries.
He will hold media briefings in both countries.
Myanmar security force’s brutal crackdown in Rohingya-dominated Rakhine State, in late August last year, forced more than 700,000 members of the ethnic minority to flee to Bangladesh. Myanmar does not recognize the mainly-Muslim Rohingyas and forces many of them to live in apartheid-like conditions in squalid camps.
After the latest influx of refugees, access to food, healthcare, education, and daily necessities, has been difficult for everyone.
“Humanitarian organizations are doing their best to alleviate the suffering in very difficult circumstances, especially as the monsoon season advances. But 10 months on, despite all the talking and all the efforts, too many people are still suffering too much," said Maurer, according to the press release.
“While the emergency response continues, there must be urgent progress – from humanitarians, development actors, and the authorities – on building sustainable solutions,” he added.
