The persecution of the Rohingya by the Burmese (Myanmar) Government

Summary

Since the outbreak of violence in Rakhine state in Burma in August 2017 around half a million people have crossed the border into Bangladesh creating what the UN Secretary-General has described as a “devastating humanitarian situation”. Hundreds of thousands of mostly Rohingya people have fled what human rights agencies are reporting as grave human rights abuses by the Burmese military. Aung Suu Kyi, Burma’s leader, has come under repeated criticism for her response to the crisis.

The Prime Minister has joined with the international community in calling on the Burmese authorities to stop the violence, allow the safe return of refugees and allow full humanitarian access. The Government has donated £30 million in aid and has pledged to match £5 million in donations to the Disaster Emergency Committee appeal for people fleeing Burma. The UK has suspended educational training programmes for the Burmese military in light of crisis.