UN not part of Rakhine humanitarian corridor: UN Resident Coordinator

The United Nations (UN) is not involved in the establishment of a humanitarian corridor between Bangladesh and Myanmar to deliver aid to the people of Rakhine State, according to Gwyn Lewis, the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh.

Lewis made the remarks while speaking to reporters at an event held at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Her comments come amid growing political and media discussions over a possible humanitarian corridor to Myanmar’s conflict-hit Rakhine State.

"The government of Bangladesh is working on establishing a humanitarian corridor with Myanmar’s Rakhine State, but the United Nations is not part of the process," she stated clearly.

While the UN welcomes and supports initiatives aimed at improving cross-border cooperation and aiding conflict-affected populations, it is not involved in this particular initiative, she added.

"A humanitarian corridor is a formal legal mechanism that requires the consent of both sovereign states involved, and possibly that of a third party, depending on the circumstances," Lewis explained.

She noted that the UN would be willing to support such an initiative if a formal agreement were reached. "But as far as I know, no such agreement has been signed yet," she said.

Previously, National Security Advisor Major General (retd) Md Khalilur Rahman also clarified that no agreement has been reached with any party regarding a humanitarian corridor or related matters.

He stated that the government has neither held discussions nor signed any deals on the issue with the concerned parties.