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New York, NY, September 14, 2017 —  The ̽����ѡ (̽����ѡ) is deeply concerned about the ongoing violence and displacement across �Ѳⲹ�Գ�����’s northern Rakhine State. Over 400,000 people have fled the violence since August 25 to Bangladesh, and the ̽����ѡ expects the number of to reach 500,000 - half of the known Rohingyan population - by the end of the week. As the largest provider of health assistance in Rakhine state, the ̽����ѡ is particularly concerned by the over 120,000 internally-displaced persons cut off from life-saving services, particularly in light of dire pre-existing conditions. An ̽����ѡ analysis from late 2016 revealed that civilians in Rakhine’s camps are up to ten times more likely to contract deadly diseases like tuberculosis, and at far greater risk of sexual violence and child marriage, due to camp conditions. The ̽����ѡ is ready to scale up its response in emergency health care, as well as the protection of women and girls, in Rakhine. The ̽����ѡ is also monitoring the situation in Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh.

With up to fifty thousand new arrivals of Rohingya civilians a day in Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh, this represents a very severe humanitarian crisis. We call on all parties to the conflict, particularly the Government of Myanmar, to ensure the protection of civilians and allow for the immediate and unfettered delivery of humanitarian assistance. To date, no UN agencies or NGOs are able to access Northern Rakhine in spite of increasingly urgent need. 

“Tenable and dignified solutions for some of the world’s most vulnerable people remain a distant prospect – only further endangering a democratic peace in Myanmar,” said ̽����ѡ’s regional director for Asia Sanna Johnson. “More than ever, meeting humanitarian need for the Rohingya and the rest of �Ѳⲹ�Գ�����’s communities is an urgent and critical step to bringing an end to the world’s longest civil war.” 

The ̽����ѡ has been delivering assistance in Rakhine since 2014, serving both Rohingya and Rakhine communities with primary healthcare, food security and livelihoods, governance, protection and water and sanitation activities. During 2016, the ̽����ѡ reached over 130,000 people in Rakhine. Across Rakhine, Northern Shan and Kachin, Kayin, Kayah, Mon, Chin state and the Southeast, the ̽����ѡ has been responding to ongoing needs of �Ѳⲹ�Գ�����’s communities to help them survive, recover and gain control of their future.