Rohingya crisis: Security Council plans to visit Myanmar, Bangladesh

The UN Security Council has been given green lights for visits this month to Myanmar and Bangladesh, where it expects to focus on the beleaguered Rohingya Muslim minority, as well as to Iraq.

Peru's UN Ambassador Gustavo Meza-Cuadra is the council president for April. He told reporters Monday that details and timing of the separate visits are being worked out.

He said council members hope to visit Myanmar's western Rakhine state, where about 700,000 Rohingyas lived before fleeing to Bangladesh to escape a brutal military counterinsurgency campaign — and thousands still remain.

Meza-Cuadra said Iraq needs international support "for rebuilding the country and to ensure reconciliation" following "significant progress" in fighting terrorism, including the Islamic State extremist group. He also noted that Iraqi elections are scheduled in May.

UN asst secy gen travelling to Myanmar

United Nations' Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Ursula Mueller, is travelling to Myanmar today.

She will be there for a week and observe first-hand the impact of the crisis in Rakhine State and the conflict in Kachin and Shan states, Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, said in a press briefing.

Her mission will include meetings in Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw, as well as field visits.  During her stay in Myanmar, Mueller is expected to meet with people impacted by the humanitarian crises, senior Government officials, and humanitarian partners.

She will also discuss ways to improve the humanitarian response in Rakhine state.