Since last year the situation of Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State has severely deteriorated. About
120,000 Rohingya Muslims fled into Bangladesh after Rohingyan militants attacked government
forces on 25 August 2017 and the army responded by killing hundreds of people.
Furthermore, Myanmar government blocked UN aid like food, water and medicines for thousands of
civilians in the region. On 2 May Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi promised to follow recommendations of a commission chaired by Kofi Annan. This commision warned in its final report on 23 August that “[u]nless concerted action – led by the government and aided by all sectors of the government and society – is taken soon, we risk the return of another cycle of violence and radicalisation, which will further deepen the chronic poverty that afflicts Rakhine State.”
Nevertheless the situation has dramatically worsened. The EU's response has been at best modest
and is insufficient in the current circumstances.
- Will the HR/VP intensify the EU’s efforts in solving this looming human disaster?
- Will the HR/VP remind State Counsellor of Myanmar, the Myanmar government and Myanmar Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing to uphold their promise to follow the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State?