UN chief concerned over communal violence in Myanmar

The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday he remains concerned about the communal violence and humanitarian situation in Myanmar .

"I am deeply troubled by the communal violence that swept Rakhine and elsewhere," said Ban while attending the meeting of the Group of Friends on Myanmar in New York.

The Secretary-General said he remains "concerned about the plight of the Rohingya population and their disturbing humanitarian situation."

Ban said he plans to write to Myanmar's three key leaders urging them to address communal concerns and to make a united call to the people of Myanmar to end all violence and incitement.

The Group of Friends on Myanmar, comprising of more than a dozen nations and regional blocs, is aimed to serve as a consultative forum in support of the Secretary-General's good offices mandate on Myanmar.

The members of the group urged the need to punish the perpetrators of the violence and call for respect for the fundamental rights of all peoples irrespective of ethnicity or religion.

At the meeting, Ban also said that the Myanmar government and people need continued support to move towards reform and to deliver the dividends of peace and inclusive development.

Several waves of clashes between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims during the past year have left tens of thousands of people displaced, according to UN.