Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to reports that hundreds of Rohingya Muslims are crossing from Burma into Bangladesh, in order to seek safety and shelter from the violence they are experiencing in Burma.

The Government remains deeply concerned by the current situation in Rakhine and the persecution of the Muslim minority Rohingya community. The UK Government has repeatedly engaged the Government of Burma to urge a restrained security response, an independent investigation into allegations of human rights abuses, and for the immediate resumption of access for humanitarian aid. The Minister of State Rory Stewart raised the issue personally with Burmese ministers in recent meetings in Burma and the UK.

The Government of Burma has now committed to restoring humanitarian access and investigating allegations of human rights abuses. We will continue to monitor and support the delivery of these commitments. The UK Government has also called on the Government of Bangladesh not to return the people seeking refuge back into danger and we continue to offer support through our work with IOM and the World Food Programme. The UK is the largest provider of food aid to the 34,000 Rohingya refugees already living in official camps in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh we are also increasing access to nutrition, health and education services for refugees living in makeshift settlements and the host communities that support them.