Dr. Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen, Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, OIC, has urged the European Union and United Nations agencies to take action to alleviate the suffering of the Rohingya people of Myanmar.

The Secretary General addressed separate letters to Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, calling for decisive steps to end the ongoing crisis in Rakhine State.

The Secretary-General reiterated that the OIC joined the international community in calling for the recommendations of the Rakhine State Commission to be implemented, but these are long-term goals and there is an urgent and immediate need for lifesaving intervention.

The organisation stands ready to provide humanitarian assistance, reiterating its call upon the Myanmar government to end the cycle of violence and inhumane treatment of the Rohingya people and provide a lasting solution to the question of their legal status.

Since 2014, the OIC has warned that if the government of Myanmar continues to destroy homes, kill innocent civilians and humiliate entire population without any recourse to justice this will create a breeding ground for recruitment by extremists elements. Now the international community must act to prevent the genocide of the Rohingya.