UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Monday welcomed the organization by the Myanmar government of a visit by three UN representatives to northern Rakhine, where a mass exodus of the Rohingya has caused international concern.
"This was a positive step and the UN in Myanmar believes it could help in our efforts to explore how the UN could cooperate with the Myanmar authorities to alleviate the dire situation in northern Rakhine," said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
The three UN representatives who took part in the field visit were resident coordinator for Myanmar Renata Lok-Dessallien, the World Food Program (WFP) representative and deputy humanitarian coordinator Domenico Scalpelli, and senior UN Refugee Agency official Cecile Fradot, Haq told a daily briefing.
Building on this visit, the UN looks forward to strengthening trust and cooperation with all communities and the Myanmar government, he said. "This will be critical in addressing the root causes and setting a sustainable path toward peace and prosperity of all people in Rakhine State, irrespective of ethnicity, religion or citizenship status."
Asked whether the UN officials have seen any devastation in northern Rakhine State, Haq said the United Nations is waiting for a report.
He said the UN is ready to provide its full support to the authorities in responding to the humanitarian and human rights crisis in northern Rakhine.
More than half a million Rohingyas have fled Myanmar and sought refuge in neighboring Bangladesh since fighting flared up on Aug. 25 between Myanmar security forces and Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army in northern Rakhine.
The Rohingya, a mostly Muslim ethnic minority living in a largely Buddhist nation, are denied citizenship under a 1982 Myanmar citizenship law. The Myanmar government recognizes them as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
Haq reiterated Guterres' call on the Myanmar authorities to end the military operations, to allow unfettered access for humanitarian support, and to ensure the safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return of the refugees to their areas of origin.
In Bangladesh, top UN officials saw first-hand the gravity of the humanitarian crisis, said Haq.
UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock and UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake on Monday visited Cox's Bazar, the place where most of the Rohingya refugee seek shelter, said Haq.
WFP head David Beasley on Monday wrapped up his visit to Bangladesh, where he heard what he called "heart-breaking" stories from Rohingya refugees, according to Haq.
The WFP has distributed rice to some 460,000 refugees, and has also been providing high-energy biscuits to more than 200,000 people as an emergency measure when they arrive in the settlements and at border crossing points, according to Haq.
UN aid agencies continue to work with the Bangladeshi government to scale up relief operations, with staff and supplies continuing to arrive in Cox's Bazar, he added.
UNICEF is launching an emergency 76-million-U.S. dollar appeal to help 720,000 children -- Rohingya refugee children who arrived in Bangladesh recently as well as those who came before the recent crisis, and children from vulnerable host communities, said Haq.
Up to 60 percent of the Rohingya who have fled Myanmar since Aug. 25 are estimated to be children, he said.
