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Guterres Calls For Rohingyas To Be Granted Citizenship

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday reiterated his call for Muslims from Myanmar's Rakhine state to be granted nationality or at least a legal status that would allow them to lead a normal life, while also urging the international community to help provide assistance for the nearly 380,000 people who have fled to Bangladesh.

“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,” the Secretary-General said in his first press conference since the opening of the 72nd session of the General Assembly.

Guterres repeated his call for “an effective action plan” to address the root causes of the situation, which he said had been left to fester for decades and has now escalated beyond Myanmar's borders, destabilizing the region.

The Security Council was due to discuss the situation on Wednesday in an urgent closed-door meeting, following an official letter from the Secretary-General expressing his concern.

“The humanitarian situation is catastrophic,” he said, noting that at the time of his briefing to the press last week, there were 125,000 Rohingya who had fled to Bangladesh. That number has now tripled to nearly 380,000 and people are arriving hungry and malnourished and finding shelter in makeshift settlements or with host communities.

“I urge all countries to do what they can for humanitarian assistance to be provided,” Guterres said. He also called on Myanmar authorities to ensure delivery of aid by UN agencies, non-governmental organizations and others.

The humanitarian community has this week launched a $77 million USD appeal to aid some of the stateless refugees for the next three months.

This came just a day after Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi called off plans to attend the UN General Assembly session in New York amid growing outrage over the unfolding Rohingya crisis.

Critics have called for the Nobel laureate to be stripped of her peace prize amid reports of “ethnic cleansing” against Rohingya Muslimse.

Her spokesman said Tuesday State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi will focus attention on the "Rakhine terrorist attacks," and will not attend the UN session.

Guterres Calls For Rohingyas To Be Granted Citizenship

The UN chief called on Myanmar government to suspend military action and to grant all Rohingyas nationality in order for them to lead a normal life.

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United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday reiterated his call for Muslims from Myanmar's Rakhine state to be granted nationality or at least a legal status that would allow them to lead a normal life, while also urging the international community to help provide assistance for the nearly 380,000 people who have fled to Bangladesh.

“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,” the Secretary-General said in his first press conference since the opening of the 72nd session of the General Assembly.

Guterres repeated his call for “an effective action plan” to address the root causes of the situation, which he said had been left to fester for decades and has now escalated beyond Myanmar's borders, destabilizing the region.

The Security Council was due to discuss the situation on Wednesday in an urgent closed-door meeting, following an official letter from the Secretary-General expressing his concern.

“The humanitarian situation is catastrophic,” he said, noting that at the time of his briefing to the press last week, there were 125,000 Rohingya who had fled to Bangladesh. That number has now tripled to nearly 380,000 and people are arriving hungry and malnourished and finding shelter in makeshift settlements or with host communities.

“I urge all countries to do what they can for humanitarian assistance to be provided,” Guterres said. He also called on Myanmar authorities to ensure delivery of aid by UN agencies, non-governmental organizations and others.

The humanitarian community has this week launched a $77 million USD appeal to aid some of the stateless refugees for the next three months.

This came just a day after Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi called off plans to attend the UN General Assembly session in New York amid growing outrage over the unfolding Rohingya crisis.

Critics have called for the Nobel laureate to be stripped of her peace prize amid reports of “ethnic cleansing” against Rohingya Muslimse.

Her spokesman said Tuesday State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi will focus attention on the "Rakhine terrorist attacks," and will not attend the UN session.

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