Myanmar vows to aid UN with migrant issue

The United Nations and Myanmar have vowed to cooperate in tackling human-trafficking issues both nationally and regionally, the UN said in a statement published on Wednesday following a brief visit by the UN secretary-general's special adviser on Myanmar to a camp for rescued migrants.

Concerning the ongoing "boat crisis" in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal, the statement said special adviser Vijay Nambiar discussed with authorities the seriousness of the migrant smuggling situation.

The UN stressed the need for concerted action against traffickers and criminal syndicates involved in regional smuggling, adding it had offered support to the Myanmar government in addressing the issues.