Statement following visit to Rakhine state by Canada’s Ambassador to Myanmar

October 20, 2017 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

Global Affairs Canada today issued the following statement after the visit to Rakhine state by Canada’s Ambassador to Myanmar, Karen MacArthur – her fourth trip to Rakhine and the second since August 25, 2017:

“Canadians are deeply concerned by the extreme security and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar. Canada calls for immediate action to end the critical and worsening situation in Rakhine state, its impact on hundreds of thousands of civilians there and in neighbouring Bangladesh.

“While meeting with the State Government’s Cabinet, including the State Secretary, Canada urged once again Myanmar authorities, particularly the military, to do everything in their power to end the violence, protect all civilians, to allow the delivery of humanitarian assistance and to implement the recommendations of the Kofi Annan-chaired Advisory Commission on Rakhine State.

“Ambassador MacArthur also spoke with Rohingya activists and youth, and representatives of other ethnic and religious communities. She reiterated that Canada stands ready to support all efforts to build an inclusive, diverse and stable society in Myanmar, and that we will continue to work with humanitarian partners on the ground to pursue all options to deliver immediate life-saving assistance.”

Quick Facts

• To date in 2017, Canada has provided $13.27 million in humanitarian assistance funding to partners in Myanmar and Bangladesh to meet the needs of crisis-affected people, including the Rohingya.

Associated links

• Canada and the crisis in Myanmar’s Rakhine state

Contacts

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Global Affairs Canada
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media@international.gc.ca
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