US to seek Myanmar help for Bangladesh on migrants

The United States of America (USA) will call upon the government of Myanmar to cooperate with Bangladesh particularly in rescuing the floating migrants and providing immediate relief to them.
Marie Harf, Deputy Spokesperson of the US Department of State, made the disclosure at a press briefing in Washington on May 20 last.
She said her country welcomed the decision taken by Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand that they would work together to uphold their responsibilities under the international laws and provide humanitarian assistance and shelter to 7,000 vulnerable migrants stranded at sea in Southeast Asia.
According to her, the US urged other countries of the region and the international communities to support them under those efforts.
"This will be an important subject at the May 29th conference hosted by Thailand in Bangkok. We believe all governments in the region with a stake in this issue should attend this conference, where a high-level U.S. delegation will be present," she said.
About the recent move to push back boats carrying Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants and asylum seekers, she said the U.S. continued to urge countries in the region to take proactive steps quickly to save the lives of migrants and asylum seekers now at sea and refrain from turning away any new boat arrival.
"Deputy Secretary Blinken is in the region; he said in Jakarta earlier today that the U.S. stands ready to help the countries of the region bear the burden and save lives today. And I note tomorrow he will be going to Burma," the Deputy Spokesperson of the US Department of State said.
Ms Harf said the Deputy Secretary during his visit to Burma would urge the Burmese government to cooperate with Bangladesh particularly in rescuing the migrants adrift and providing immediate relief to them.
She said they remained concerned about the factors that drove people to risk their lives at sea, including Burma's policy towards Rohingya minority and racially and religiously-motivated discrimination.
"So I think the Deputy Secretary will emphasise - as we have a number of times - the need for the Burmese Government to assume responsibility for these longstanding issues in Rakhine state, including addressing the conditions facing the Rohingya population. And I think we'll urge also some full and unhindered access to humanitarian assistance there as well," the Deputy Spokesperson said.
When asked about the US plans to resettle the ill-fated migrants, she said if the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and IOM (International Organisation for Migration) indicated the need for additional funds to assist governments to establish things like reception centres and ensure protection screening procedures, they would consider those requests. In terms of resettling, the Malaysians and the Indonesians have requested some help resettling people and they are taking a careful look at the proposal.
"We're prepared to take a leading role in any UNHCR-organised multi-country effort to resettle the most vulnerable refugees. I'd note that more than a thousand Rohingya have already been resettled to the U.S. so far this fiscal year, and we're also providing assistance this year," she added.
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