merrion street

The Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade, Simon Coveney T.D., expressed serious concern about the recent escalation of violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar and the consequent humanitarian crisis.

“I condemn the attacks on 25 August and subsequent actions undertaken by ARSA militants. I am also deeply concerned by the reports of excessive responses by Myanmar's security forces following those attacks. I call on the security forces to de-escalate the situation, to respect international human rights law, and to ensure the protection of all civilians in the affected area.

I encourage the Government of Myanmar to continue to engage with the UN. I also welcome the commitment of the Government to implement the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State and urge them to take forward this work as soon as possible. This provides a basis for dealing with the long-term resolution of the challenges facing all communities in the region.”

Note to Editors

The Government continues to monitor this protracted humanitarian situation closely and may allocate additional humanitarian assistance in the coming months, in line with humanitarian needs.