Malaysia and some regional partners will send a joint delegation to Myanmar to push for peace and humanitarian aid for Rohingya refugees struggling in Bangladesh, the Southeast Asian nation's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday.
Bangladesh shelters more than 1 million Rohingya refugees in camps in its southeastern district of Cox's Bazar, the world's largest refugee settlement.
Anwar's comments came at the start of a three-day visit by Bangladesh's interim head, Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, to Malaysia.
"To secure peace in Myanmar is of course a great priority, along with immediate humanitarian assistance for the suffering first, the refugees and also the victims of earthquakes," Anwar told a joint press briefing with Yunus.
Malaysia's foreign minister will coordinate the Myanmar mission, set for the coming weeks, along with counterparts from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand, added Anwar, who is chair of the ASEAN regional grouping this year.
"We are concerned with the burden placed on Bangladesh on having to cater for enormous numbers of Rohingya refugees."
Escalating conflict and targeted violence against the Rohingya have forced about 150,000 to flee to Bangladesh in the past 18 months, the United Nations said.
Malaysia and Bangladesh signed five pacts during Yunus's visit, covering defence cooperation and collaboration in supply and infrastructure of liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, and related facilities.
Putin and Modi discuss trade, peace in New Delhi summit
Indian air travel crippled as IndiGo's pilot crisis enters fourth day
Lebanon says ceasefire talks aim primarily at halting Israel's hostilities
US to widen travel ban to more than 30 countries, Noem says
Putin visits Delhi as Russia, India seek to increase and diversify trade
