US to urge Myanmar to help Bangladesh in migrant issue

The United States will urge Myanmar to cooperate with Bangladesh particularly to rescue and provide immediate relief to migrants adrift.

The international communities should also support Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand in executing their decision to give temporarily shelter to around 7,000 people drifting in the sea, said Marie Harf, deputy spokesperson of the US Department of State, yesterday.

At the daily press briefing in Washington yesterday, she welcomed the three South-Asian nations for providing support to the migrants at the daily press briefing in Washington.

This will be an important subject at the May 29th conference hosted by Thailand in Bangkok, she said.

"We believe all governments in the region with a stake in this issue should attend this conference, where a high-level US delegation will be present," she added.

The US continues to urge countries in the region to take proactive steps quickly to save the lives of migrants and asylum seekers now at sea and refrain from turning away any new boat arrivals, Harf said.

"Deputy Secretary Blinken is in the region; he said in Jakarta earlier today (yesterday) that the US stands ready to help the countries of the region bear the burden and save lives today," the spokesperson said.

"We have a common obligation to answer the call of these migrants, who have risked their lives at sea. And I note tomorrow he (deputy secretary) will be going to Burma (Myanmar)," she said.

The spokesperson said, "And as we've said before, when it comes to some of these conditions, we remain concerned about the factors that drive people to risk their lives at sea, including the Government of Burma's policy towards its Rohingya minority and racially and religiously-motivated discrimination."

"So I think the Deputy Secretary will emphasize – as we have a number of times – the need for the Burmese Government to assume responsibility for these longstanding issues in Rakhine state, including addressing the conditions facing the Rohingya population," she added.

Asked about the US' intention to help the boatpeople, Harf said, "If the UNHCR and IOM indicate the need for additional funds to assist governments to establish things like reception centers and ensure protection screening procedures, we'll consider those requests." 

The United States will urge Myanmar to cooperate with Bangladesh particularly to rescue and provide immediate relief to migrants adrift.

The international communities should also support Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand in executing their decision to give temporarily shelter to around 7,000 people drifting in the sea, said Marie Harf, deputy spokesperson of the US Department of State, yesterday.

At the daily press briefing in Washington yesterday, she welcomed the three South-Asian nations for providing support to the migrants at the daily press briefing in Washington.

This will be an important subject at the May 29th conference hosted by Thailand in Bangkok, she said.

"We believe all governments in the region with a stake in this issue should attend this conference, where a high-level US delegation will be present," she added.

The US continues to urge countries in the region to take proactive steps quickly to save the lives of migrants and asylum seekers now at sea and refrain from turning away any new boat arrivals, Harf said.

"Deputy Secretary Blinken is in the region; he said in Jakarta earlier today (yesterday) that the US stands ready to help the countries of the region bear the burden and save lives today," the spokesperson said.

"We have a common obligation to answer the call of these migrants, who have risked their lives at sea. And I note tomorrow he (deputy secretary) will be going to Burma (Myanmar)," she said.

The spokesperson said, "And as we've said before, when it comes to some of these conditions, we remain concerned about the factors that drive people to risk their lives at sea, including the Government of Burma's policy towards its Rohingya minority and racially and religiously-motivated discrimination."

"So I think the Deputy Secretary will emphasize – as we have a number of times – the need for the Burmese Government to assume responsibility for these longstanding issues in Rakhine state, including addressing the conditions facing the Rohingya population," she added.

Asked about the US' intention to help the boatpeople, Harf said, "If the UNHCR and IOM indicate the need for additional funds to assist governments to establish things like reception centers and ensure protection screening procedures, we'll consider those requests."