Topic: The Situation in Myanmar
Country: United States
Delegate Name: Caroline Kuntzman
School: Forest Hills Northern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All United States position papers GLIMUN 2018 committees
The situation in Myanmar is of great concern. Approximately 700,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar’s Rakhine state and there have been reports of mass killings, gang rape, and entire villages destroyed. It is the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world. While refugee camps have been set up in neighboring Bangladesh, conditions for the refugees are poor. Camps are ill equipped to provide for the food and medical needs of the people. Sanitation is also an issue. According to the International Organization for Migration, Rohingya refugee camps such as the one at Cox’s Bazar there have been reports of women and girls being abducted for sexual exploitation and forced labor.
The United States is committed to helping with this crisis. In the past year, the United States has provided approximately $389 million in aid for those affected by the crisis both in and around Myanmar. They have also sanctioned four members of Myanmar’s military and taken in over 5,000 Rohingya refugees as of 2016. When Myanmar’s government detained three journalists for reporting on the murder of Rohingya men, US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, advocated for their release.
The United States will continue providing aid for the Rohingya crisis.This aid will be given to displaced people within within Myanmar and Bangladesh and other vulnerable populations in Myanmar. It is not only important to protect the Rohingya, but insure that other groups do not become targets. The United States requests that Myanmar allow aid workers to enter the country and asks that bordering countries do not close their borders to fleeing Rohingya. The United States urges that all countries cooperate with the UN Security Council in investigating the atrocities. Myanmar cannot attempt to hide those responsible for the atrocities; the perpetrators must be brought to justice.
