Amos sees lack of trust in Myanmar

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YANGON, Myanmar, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- Authorities in Myanmar need to work closer with the United Nations and humanitarian groups to help those suffering from internal violence, a U.N. leader said.

Valerie Amos, U.N. undersecretary for humanitarian affairs, visited Myanmar, known also as Burma, to urge the country's leaders to address needs in areas affected by communal violence.

"The trust is not there," she said in a statement. "We need the political leaders in Myanmar to support the important humanitarian work being done by the United Nations and our partners."

Violence pitting Muslim and Buddhist communities against each other in the coastal state of Rakhine caused widespread displacement and left dozens of people dead. Myanmar President Thein Sein told the U.N. General Assembly last month that his government was working with various armed groups in the country on cease-fire agreements.

"Tensions between the communities are still running very high," said Amos. "There is an urgent need for reconciliation."

Since late September, at least 89 people were killed and another 36,000 displaced by the fighting in Rakhine state.

The United Nations had said those displaced by violence in Rakhine state would get some relief from the $5.3 million in assistance offered by the U.N. Central Emergency Response Fund.