The United States has said it is working through the United Nations and other international organizations to assist tens of thousands of civilians who have fled to Bangladesh since 25 August.

‘We are also communicating with Burma’s neighbors and other concerned international partners on efforts to end the violence and assist affected communities there,’ said Heather Nauert, Spokesperson at the US Department of States in a regular briefing in Washington, DC on Thursday.

The US said they are deeply concerned by the troubling situation in Burma’s northern Rakhine State.

‘There has been a significant displacement of local populations, following serious allegations of human rights abuses, including mass burnings of Rohingya villages and violence conducted by security forces and also armed civilians,’ said the Spokesperson.

The US urged all in Burma, including in the Rakhine State, to avoid actions that exacerbate tensions there.

‘We welcome the Government of Burma’s acknowledgement of the need to protect all communities and its pledge to implement recommendations of the Advisory Commission on the Rakhine State aimed at addressing long-standing challenges that predate the country’s democratic transition. We call on authorities to facilitate immediate access to affected communities that are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance,’ said the Spokesperson.

Responding to a question, she said, ‘We’d like to certainly call on the Government of Burma to allow better, greater access for reporters and journalists to be able to enter that country and be able to provide accurate information about what’s going on the ground.’

‘There also remains a humanitarian situation, where it is very difficult for humanitarian aid groups to be able to get in and provide the supplies and the support that is necessary, she said adding that ‘We are continuing to have conversations with the government, not only about the violence there, but also about those issues of journalists and also, perhaps more importantly, the humanitarian aid situation.’