A COMPREHENSIVE strategy is needed to deal with the latest cycle of humanitarian crisis afflicting Myanmar’s Rohingya minority community. The current crisis must be dealt with by providing immediate protection and assistance to those who have fled to Bangladesh. Immediate steps need to be taken to stop the violence inside Myanmar that is continuing to force people to flee.

Equally, it must be recognised that a sustainable solution requires actions which are long term and address the grievances of both the Rohingya and Rakhine populations. Development benefits must be provided to all communities in this impoverished state in Myanmar. The mistake in the past — forcing the Rohingya to return before fundamental problems are resolved — should not be repeated.

… Janet Lim is a Visiting Senior Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. She recently retired from the United Nations, after a 34-year career. She was most recently the UN Assistant High Commissioner (Operations) for Refugees