China and Russia blocked a proposed UN Security Council statement on Friday that would have expressed concern over the tense situation in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, diplomats said.
Myanmar’s military carried out a four-month offensive against the Rohingya in northern Rakhine that UN human rights investigators have said likely resulted in atrocities and crimes against humanity.
British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told reporters “there was no consensus in the room” for the statement.
Diplomats said China and Russia had raised objections, but the diplomatic missions of the two countries did not respond to requests for information.
We support the peace process and are one of the largest bilateral humanitarian aid donors, including in Rakhine state
The proposed British-drafted statement “noted with concern renewed fighting in some parts of the country and stressed the importance of humanitarian access to all the areas”.
