The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says that it stands ready to support the Government in registering all internally displaced persons (IDPs) and to promote reconciliation for safe and sustainable voluntary returns.

UNHCR has been working with the authorities and partners to provide water, sanitation and healthcare services to those uprooted by the violence between Buddhists and Muslims.

Some 75,000 people were uprooted in the first wave of riots in northern Rakhine state last June. Another 36,000 were displaced by a second wave of unrest in October.

“Many others who were not directly affected by the violence have lost their livelihoods as a result of restricted movements due to the security situation. Some have been forced to leave their homes in search of assistance,” UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards told reporters in Geneva.

There are an estimated 13,000 people living in makeshift sites around the state capital Sittwe and some 2,800 people in Maungdaw who are not formally considered IDPs by the authorities and who have therefore not received aid systematically.

In the last year, UNHCR has distributed relief supplies such as plastic sheets, sleeping mats and kitchen sets for 75,000 IDPs. Supplementing the Government’s shelter programme, it has provided tents, temporary or permanent shelters to 45,000 people. Additional shelters are being built by UNHCR for 25,000 IDPs in Pauktaw and Myebon townships who are vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season.

“UNHCR has been working with the authorities and partner agencies to make sure that the IDPs receive adequate water, sanitation and health care services,” said Mr. Edwards, adding that this has been difficult in some areas, with aid workers being harassed or threatened and displaced people unable to move freely to access basic services.

UNHCR has highlighted the urgent need to register all IDPs in order to improve aid delivery and better respond to the needs of the most vulnerable among them.

“While humanitarian assistance remains the priority for now, we are also working with the Government to advocate for action to promote dialogue and peaceful co-existence between the communities to pave the way for voluntary return,” Mr. Edwards stated.

The agency added that active steps must be taken to stem the flow of people out of Rakhine. Since last June, more than 27,000 people – believed mostly to be from there – have embarked on dangerous boat journeys in search of safety and stability in other countries.

UNHCR has appealed to Governments in the region to keep their doors open to people in need of international protection. It is also asking authorities in Myanmar to urgently address the root causes of this outflow of people.

The agency also noted that it needs $80 million to meet the needs of people of concern in Myanmar – including IDPs in Rakhine, Kachin and the south-east – until the end of the year. It has so far received 18 per cent of that amount.

More than 140,000 individuals – mostly from the Rohingya Muslim minority – are currently displaced across Rakhine state and have been living in temporary shelters since violence erupted between the Buddhist and Muslim communities in Rakhine state in June 2012. Around half are located in low-lying areas prone to flooding.

According to information released by the US military, cyclone “Mahasen” is expected to reach the area by late Wednesday or early Thursday morning.

“The government has been repeatedly warned to make appropriate arrangements for those displaced in Rakhine state. Now thousands of lives are at stake unless targeted action is taken immediately to assist those most at risk,” said Isabelle Arradon, Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia Pacific Director.

Authorities in Myanmar are said to have taken some measures, including identifying evacuation sites and broadcasting announcements in and around the coastal town of Sittwe to warn residents of the impending storm.

However, several of the identified evacuation sites are within already established camps for internally displaced persons or fail to have adequate storm-ready structures, and storm warnings have not been provided to all at-risk displaced communities outside of Rakhine state’s capital city, Sittwe.

The authorities also continue to impose restrictions on freedom of movement for Rohingya in Rakhine state, including those who are confined to ill-equipped camps.

“The government must facilitate assistance without discrimination, including by lifting any restrictions on movement and ensuring humanitarian groups have access to all individuals in need. The freedom for Rohingya to seek higher ground may be their only chance to avoid potential flooding from heavy rains,” said Arradon.

The Rohingya have faced discrimination for decades in Myanmar. They are not recognized as an official ethnic group and continue to be denied equal access to citizenship rights. Their rights to study, work, travel, marry, practise their religion, and receive health services are restricted to various degrees.

Since the violence last June, Buddhist and Muslim communities have been living largely segregated from each other and tensions remain high.

“Considering continuing tensions between Buddhist and Muslim communities in Rakhine, the authorities need to prepare for the possibility of violence during an evacuation situation or in the aftermath of a storm. Addressing the discrimination of the Rohingya community and taking urgent steps towards accountability for last year’s violence will be crucial to prevent future abuses,” said Arradon.

State security forces carried out human rights violations during last year’s violence in Rakhine state and failed to protect people from attacks, including Rohingya.

The government-appointed Rakhine Commission this week issued a briefing on its investigation into violence between Buddhist and Muslim communities in Rakhine state, western Myanmar, which first erupted in June 2012. The clashes have resulted in a considerable loss of life and left thousands displaced.

The Commission, which did not include any Rohingya on its panel, called on the government to “double” the presence of security forces in Rakhine state, including the Border Security Force (NaSaKa).

“There are some positive steps in this report but also several flaws. Deploying more security forces without first suspending — pending further investigation — those who may have been involved in human rights violations during last year’s violence could fuel further abuses,” said Isabelle Arradon, Amnesty International’s Asia Deputy Director.

“Comprehensive reform of the security forces, including the establishment of robust accountability mechanisms, adequate vetting systems and training on relevant international standards, is also essential.”

Since June 2012, the NaSaKa, police and army have arbitrarily detained hundreds of men and boys, mostly from Muslim-dominated areas, and subjected many of them to torture and other ill-treatment.

There are also consistent reports that security forces have failed to protect members of the Muslim community, particularly the Rohingya minority, from attacks. In some cases, security forces have used unnecessary and excessive force that has led to deaths and injuries.

The Commission did recommend the establishment of a Truth-Finding Committee, and stressed the need to ensure that those who break the law are “prosecuted”.

“A Truth-Finding Committee is a positive step, as long as it is part of an independent investigation to determine responsibility for the violence and its findings are released to the public,” said Isabelle Arradon.

“But such a commission should not bar or replace criminal justice, or reparation for crimes under international law.”

The Commission said citizenship claims by Rohingya, who are referred to in the report as “Bengali”, should be addressed in a “transparent and accountable manner.”

However, it failed to call for a review of the 1982 Citizenship Law, which has rendered Rohingya Muslims effectively stateless.

“Under international human rights standards no one must be left stateless. Anything short of granting the Rohingya equal access to citizenship is in itself a form of discrimination which should be urgently addressed,” said Isabelle Arradon

The Commission also called for several measures to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Rakhine state, recognizing that the humanitarian response “still has several gaps”.

According to UN estimates, some 140,000 people remain displaced across Rakhine state with limited access to bare necessities like food and medical care.

Conditions are expected to worsen during the monsoon season, which starts in May, as heavy rains threaten to flood certain internally displaced person (IDP) camps.

“It is deeply concerning that humanitarian organizations still do not have unfettered access to all populations in need of aid, including those living in remote areas or unregistered camps,” said Arradon.

“Immediate arrangements must be made for the displaced living in flood-prone areas to avoid a humanitarian crisis with the approaching rainy season.”

The Commission recommended that the de facto segregation of the Rakhine and Rohingya populations – enforced following the violence – should continue until tensions between the communities subside.

“While there is obviously a need to restore calm, the authorities must also consult internally displaced persons and develop a plan to facilitate their voluntary return home. Segregation and IDP camps cannot be a long-term solution,” said Isabelle Arradon.

The Commission, which was established in August 2012, comprises 27 stakeholders including Muslims, but does not feature a representative from the Rohingya community.

“The Government must take immediate action to stop the violence from spreading to other parts of the country and undermining the reform process,” said the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Tomas Ojea Quintana.

He added that those responsible for acts of violence and destruction against religious and ethnic minorities must be held to account.

“Tackling discrimination is fundamental to establishing the rule of law, and impunity for acts of violence and discrimination must no longer be tolerated,” Mr. Quintana said. “The military and police must now be held to account for human rights violations committed against ethnic and religious minorities.”

Fighting last week between communities in the central region of Mandalay displaced 12,000 people and left an unconfirmed number of people dead. A curfew and state of emergency has been imposed in four townships in Mandalay region, as a result. There are reports of violence spreading to Bago and Yangon.

Senior UN officials, including the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser for Myanmar, Vijay Nambiar, have repeatedly urged leaders from different communities to work together to diffuse tensions.

In June and October last year, inter-communal violence in Rakhine state in north-west Myanmar left 120,000 internally displaced and, according to Government figures, nearly 200 dead.

Noting that warning signs have existed since June, Mr. Quintana said “the Government has simply not done enough to address the spread of discrimination and prejudice against Muslim communities across the country” or to tackle the “organized and coordinated mobs” that are inciting hatred and violently attacking Muslim communities.

The Special Rapporteur acknowledged the President’s televised address to the nation earlier today for compassion, tolerance, understanding, and empathy amongst people of all faiths in Myanmar.

He called on other institutions such as Parliament, the Supreme Court and the National Human Rights Commission to play their role in protecting constitutionally guaranteed rights, including freedom of religion, as well as the need to include civil society and political parties to tackle prejudice and discrimination.

Independent experts, or special rapporteurs, are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back, in an unpaid capacity, on specific human rights themes.

“It is clear that the Indian Ocean has become for people fleeing their countries one of the deadliest stretches of water in the world,” the agency’s spokesman, Andrej Mahecic, told journalists in Geneva.

The agency estimates that out of the 13,000 people who left on smugglers’ boats in 2012, close to 500 died at sea when their boats broke down or capsized in the Bay of Bengal.

“Already in 2013, several thousand people are believed to have boarded smugglers boats in the Bay of Bengal,” Mr. Mahecic added.

Of particular concern is the Rohingya community from western Myanmar’s Rakhine state which is not recognized by the Government and remain stateless. Fighting between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in the state erupted last June, uprooting 115,000 people – the majority of them Rohingya – and sending them to live in internally displaced camps in Myanmar or to refugee and makeshift camps in Bangladesh and neighbouring countries.

While men have usually been the ones crossing, recent weeks have seen an increase of women and children among smuggled passengers, signalling growing desperation and lack of prospects, according to UNHCR.

Among the most recent incidents, around 90 people believed to be Rohingya died of dehydration and starvation during a two-month journey. More than 30 survivors from the same vessel were rescued last weekend by Sri Lanka’s navy off that country’s coast.

“UNHCR is greatly saddened by this latest terrible ordeal, and commends the quick action of the Sri Lankan navy in rescuing this group and providing immediate medical attention,” Mr. Mahecic said. He added that the agency is ready to support the Sri Lankan authorities in assisting any among them who are in need of international protection.

Meanwhile, UNHCR is urging governments, including Bangladesh, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, which have accepted large numbers of refugees, to agree on protocols for the safe and quick disembarkation of rescued passengers and the provision of urgent humanitarian assistance.

“UNHCR recognizes the regional dimension of the irregular movements of refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants by sea. Genuine cooperative regional approaches that promote sharing of burdens and responsibility could offer asylum-seekers and refugees an alternative to dangerous and exploitative boat journeys,” Mr. Mahecic said.

The agency said it will facilitate discussions between governments and international organizations on this topic at a regional meeting to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, in March.

In this tense atmosphere, misperceptions have arisen that humanitarian agencies are limiting aid to one side in the conflict rather than following the humanitarian principles of impartiality, independence and neutrality. Humanitarian agencies say this has caused problems in interacting with people who have been affected by the crisis and has increased the risk to their workers. Some agencies have been forced to suspend their operations because of threats and intimidation.

On the outskirts of the main town of Sittwe, temporary camps for 70,000 displaced people have been erected. This is now the Muslim sector and its inhabitants are not permitted to come into town. Elsewhere in the town, a smaller number of the mostly Buddhist population have been forced from their homes by the unrest are also living in temporary shelters. In other parts of the State, many more people are living in camps. Conditions are still poor, despite aid provided by the Government, private donors, the UN and local and international NGOs.

To combat the misperceptions and improve access to everyone in need of aid, OCHA commissioned a study on behalf of the Humanitarian Country Team to look at how international aid organizations can improve their engagement with affected communities in Rakhine.

“Up until now the general approach has been to keep a low profile,” said Barbara Manzi, head of OCHA’s office in Myanmar. “This approach has worked for now but we need to change this dynamic and improve the perception of our work.”

The study found that while overall perceptions are improving as the community sees humanitarian assistance going to both communities, the UN and NGOs have not generally tried to address the misconceptions directly, through either speaking to the communities or to local media. As a result, there is a poor understanding of what humanitarian agencies are doing.

“We conducted a survey of the general community and asked them what they wanted to know about the current work of UN and NGO activities,” said Jamie Munn, a consultant with the study. “Their questions were really simple. They wanted to know exactly how we were assisting people and what our future plans were – all easy questions to answer.”

The humanitarian community is now looking at how it can incorporate the study’s recommendations into its programming. This includes contacting local media organizations and engaging with a broader group of stakeholders in the community.

One international NGO which has prioritized these strategies and has held regular information briefings with its neighbours says that a sense of trust is being established. The organization reports that it has not encountered staff intimidation or other obstacles to its work, indicating that the strategy has paid off.

The study also found that most people said they receive information from family and friends or from the media, including radio and newspapers. While social media platforms like Facebook have been blamed for fueling rumours and tensions, they do not appear to be a source of information for the majority of the community.

“One easy way for organizations to address some of the misperceptions is to support their local staff to become ambassadors and provide them with the right information to answer questions that their family and friends are asking them, such as whether aid organizations are providing aid to both communities,” said Emily Rogers, another consultant on the survey.

The study also recommends that there should be much stronger communications with people across Rakhine State, including people in camps that the humanitarian agencies are serving. People were generally not aware of the criteria for receiving aid or how often they were likely to receive it, and they knew very little about the humanitarian agencies involved in relief work.

“If we engage with communities now, both in the towns, villages and in the camps, we will be able to address some of the misconceptions that currently exist,” said Ms. Rogers. “More importantly, open communication channels will prevent new grievances flaring up as humanitarian operations continue in Rakhine.”

Addressing journalists after his meeting with Thein Sein, Obama said he understood that the country was taking “just the first steps on what will be a very long journey”.

“But we think a process of democratic and economic reform here in Myanmar that has been begun by the president is one that can lead to incredible development opportunities,” he added.

Obama’s visit to Myanmar is meant to praise the country for its progress toward democracy and to encourage it to move further.

Long critisized because of a repressive military rule, a transition to democracy began last year after a nominally civilian government took office and began taking steps toward democracy.

But some international human rights group object to the Myanmar visit, saying Obama is rewarding the country’s government while they still have a long way to go regarding human rights issues.

“While genuine progress in Myanmar should be encouraged, Obama should be careful not to overstate the changes that have occurred,” Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch said.

“The still-suffering people will be better served by a US president who is committed to seeing long-term reform in their country than one who expresses overeager praise.”

Speaking in Thailand on the the night before his landmark visit to the former pariah state, Obama denied he was going there to offer his “endorsement”.

Instead, he said his intention was to acknowledge that Myanmar, also known as Burma, had opened the door to democratic change but there was still a long way to go.

But the country has also witnessed turmoil in recent months where violence between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims had led to more than 100,000 displaced people, according to Human Rights Watch.

The UN has called the Rohingya _ who are widely reviled by the Buddhist majority in Myanmar among the world’s most persecuted people.

The White House says Obama will express his concern for the ongoing ethnic tensions in Myanmar’s western Rakhine state with Sein, along with demands to free remaining political prisoners.

Obama will close with a speech at the University of Yangon, praising the country’s progress toward democracy but urge further reforms.

The U.S., Britain, Canada and a few more countries still officially refer it to Myanmar as Burma. But as the relations with the government of President Thein Sein has changed making them less dogmatic about using the old name.

“The situation is still very, very volatile, it’s very tense,” a spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Jens Laerke, said in an interview with UN Radio. “The Government is doing its very best to keep the situation under control, but it’s still very fragile.”

At least 89 people have been killed and 35,000 displaced since the upsurge of inter-communal violence a couple of weeks ago, and more than 5,300 houses and religious buildings have been destroyed, according to OCHA.

The first wave of violence occurred in June, when clashes between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims led to the Government declaring a state of emergency in the state. The violence reportedly left at least a dozen civilians dead and hundreds of homes destroyed, while internally displacing some 75,000 people.

“The first displacement was rather localized, in a town called Sittwe, but now we have seen more and more displacement across the state,” Mr. Laerke said, adding that as violence spreads, more security forces will be needed to cover the entire province.

OCHA is calling on Myanmar authorities to grant full access to Rakhine as the number of displaced continues to increase and spreads out to the entire province, the spokesperson noted. “What we know from the preliminary findings is that they need food, shelter and other basic necessities,” he said.

Earlier last week, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) visited several villages, where medical staff in the assessment teams treated many of the wounded. The agency has also sent basic supplies such as food, plastic sheets, blankets and mosquito nets.

In addition, OCHA has launched an appeal of $32.5 million to assist those displaced. So far, only half of it the sought-after funds have been received.

In late October, in the presentation of a report on his work to the General Assembly, UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Tomas Ojea Quintana, called for the underlying causes of the tension and conflict between Rakhine’s Buddhist and Muslim communities to be addressed as a priority.

Independent experts, or special rapporteurs like Mr. Ojea Quintana, are appointed, in an honorary capacity, by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a country situation or a specific human rights the

“Movement is still restricted in parts of Rakhine state, preventing some villagers from going to work, accessing markets, food supplies, health services and education,” a spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Adrian Edwards, told reporters in Geneva. “Out of desperation, people are leaving villages to seek food and medical assistance at the IDP camps.”

In June, violence between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in the state of Rakhine, located in western Myanmar, led to the country’s Government declaring a state of emergency there.

The figure of 75,000 people in need of humanitarian aid, provided by local authorities, is an increase on initial Government estimates of some 50,000 people displaced shortly after the unrest broke out in early June, according to UNHCR. It added that a resurgence of violence in early August resulted in more than 4,000 people having their homes burned down, affecting thousands more.

The refugee agency, along with its humanitarian partners, has been advocating for greater humanitarian access and support for the most affected villages, including the towns of Sittwe, Kyauk Taw and Maungdaw.

“We hope that by delivering aid in places of origin, humanitarian agencies can help to prevent further displacement and make interventions that can facilitate the eventual return of IDPs,” Edwards said.

UNHCR is distributing relief supplies for some 54,000 people in IDP sites. The supplies include plastic sheets, sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets and kitchen sets.

The agency is also supporting the construction of emergency temporary shelters that can house about 10,500 people, and continues to support delivery of basic assistance such as food, water and sanitation to Government-run IDP camps until the situation stabilizes sufficiently for them to return home.

Edwards added that despite the rising numbers of IDPs, some people whose houses were not damaged have returned to the town of Sittwe. He added that a “fragile calm” has returned, but the situation remains tense.