UN chief Antonio Guterres calls on Myanmar to end military action, violence against Rohingyas

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called on Myanmar authorities to suspend military action and end violence against the majority-Buddhist nation’s Rohingya Muslims, saying the crisis was destabilizing the region.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called on Myanmar authorities to suspend military action and end violence against the majority-Buddhist nation’s Rohingya Muslims, saying the crisis was destabilizing the region.

Guterres told a news conference that the humanitarian situation was “catastrophic” and called on all countries to supply aid.

“I call on the Myanmar authorities to suspend military action, end the violence, uphold the rule of law and recognize the right of return of all those who had to leave the country,” Guterres said.

The government of Myanmar, also known as Burma, says its security forces are fighting Rohingya militants behind a surge of violence in Rakhine state that began on Aug. 25, and they are doing all they can to avoid harming civilians

The government says about 400 people have been killed in the fighting, the latest in the western state.