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| 'Humanitarian corridor' in Rakhine: UN not involved, decision in Bangladesh-Myanmar hands – Gwen Lewis |
Dhaka, June 4, 2025 – The United Nations will not take any decision on the possible establishment of a 'humanitarian corridor' in Myanmar's Rakhine State. Whether this corridor will take place depends entirely on the governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar. This has been made clear by the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, Gwen Lewis. She said that the UN will cooperate only if the two countries agree, but they will not take any decision on this matter.
Gwen Lewis said this in response to questions from journalists at an event organized by the 'Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh' (DCAB) at the VIP Lounge of the National Press Club today, Wednesday (June 4). Recently, the Foreign Affairs Advisor of the interim government, Md. Towhid Hossain, has been debating this issue in Bangladesh ever since the government's in-principle consent to provide a humanitarian corridor in Rakhine was revealed.
Gwen Lewis said in her speech, "Whether there will be a humanitarian corridor in Rakhine or not will depend on the governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar. It can only be implemented if the governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar agree. If both countries1 agree, the UN will cooperate. However, the UN will not take any decision on this matter." 2
She also mentioned that the UN's entry into Rakhine for relief assistance is now very difficult and challenging. They are drawing the attention of the international community to this issue.
Rohingya crisis and political solution:
Gwen Lewis said about the solution to the Rohingya crisis, "We want the safe repatriation of the Rohingyas. We hope for a political solution to this crisis." She emphasized that this crisis is not just an issue of Bangladesh, it is a global issue. However, the UN is providing various types of assistance to save the lives of the Rohingyas.
There has been long-standing concern in the international community about the Rohingya repatriation process and the humanitarian situation in Rakhine. The ongoing conflict in Myanmar has further complicated the situation in Rakhine, where humanitarian assistance is urgently needed. In such a situation, the establishment of a 'humanitarian corridor' has become an important issue.
However, although Bangladesh initially expressed its in-principle agreement on the humanitarian corridor, National Security Advisor Khalilur Rahman later gave a different statement on the matter. He said that Bangladesh has not discussed the 'humanitarian corridor' with anyone and will not do so. He also called it a 'rumor'. Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman has also taken a strong stand against the 'humanitarian corridor', calling it a 'bloody corridor'.
Gwen Lewis's clarification came amidst such contradictory statements. It is understood from her statement that the UN is mainly relying on the decisions of the two sovereign countries on this issue and they are only ready to play a supporting role.
