United States committed to support efforts to solve Rohingya problems

By The Nation

May 31, 2015

The US on Friday said it has commitment to support an effort of regional governments to tackle the migration problem in the Indian Ocean. It would provide financial and material assistance, said US Assistant Secretary of State Ann Richard.

The US also prepares to support a UNHCR-led resettlement solution to help the regional governments to tackle the issue.

Richard, an Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration represented the US in a special meeting on on Irregular Migration in the Indian Ocean held in Bangkok today.

According to Richard, the US remained the largest donor to the international organizations for migration and the UNHCR with already US$109,000,000 worth of material assistance to help the Myanmar migrants, including the Rohingyas over the past two years.

The United States also prepares to support a UNHCR-led resettlement solution to help the regional governments to tackle the issue as well as to provide humanitarian assistance, including flying surveillance flights over the region to search for stranded Rohingyas in regional waters with a cooperation from the Malaysian government although an approval from the Thai government hasn’t been fully sought yet.

After the meeting, she will fly to Malaysia and Indonesia to seek a review of the situation with both governments.