Canada PM Trudeau appoints special envoy to Myanmar

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has appointed lawyer and public servant Bob Rae as his special envoy to Myanmar.

Rae will begin his work immediately, engaging in diplomatic efforts to address the crisis regarding the country’s Rakhine State, the Canadian High Commission in Dhaka said in a statement.

He will reinforce the urgent need to resolve the humanitarian and security crisis in Myanmar and to address the situation affecting vulnerable populations, including the Rohingya Muslim community, other religious and ethnic minorities, and women and girls, it said,

Rae will also advise Trudeau on how Canada can best support efforts to respond to the needs of those affected and displaced by the recent violence.

Canada’s efforts in the region will continue to address both the immediate and long-term political, socio-economic and humanitarian challenges facing the people in Rakhine State and Myanmar.

To help address these challenges, Prime Minister Trudeau also announced that Canada will provide an additional $12 million in humanitarian assistance to meet the needs of those affected by this crisis, the high commission said.

“Canada is deeply concerned about the urgent humanitarian and security crisis in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, particularly the brutal persecution of the Rohingya Muslim people. I am confident that Bob Rae’s vast experience as a lawyer, advisor, negotiator, arbitrator and public servant will help Canada work more effectively with Myanmar and other international partners to chart a path towards lasting peace and reconciliation," the statement quoted PM Trudeau saying.