Exodus of Rohingya to Bangladesh reaches 270,000 - UNHCR

[rooster59]

Exodus of Rohingya to Bangladesh reaches 270,000 - UNHCR

By Krishna N. Das

 

Rohingya refugees wait for boat to cross a canal after crossing the border through the Naf river in Teknaf, Bangladesh, September 7, 2017. REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain

 

COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh (Reuters) - An estimated 270,000 Rohingya have sought refuge in Bangladesh over the past two weeks, the U.N. refugee agency said on Friday, announcing a dramatic jump in numbers fleeing violence in neighbouring Myanmar's Rakhine State.

 

A rights group said satellite images showed about 450 buildings had been burned down in a Myanmar border town largely inhabited by Rohingya, as part of what the Muslim minority refugees say is a concerted effort to expel them.

 

The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said the estimated number of Rohingya who fled to Bangladesh since violence erupted in Myanmar on Aug. 25 had risen from 164,000 on Thursday, after aid workers found big groups in border areas.

 

"We have identified more people in different areas that we were not aware of," said Vivian Tan, a spokeswoman for UNHCR, while adding that there could be some double-counting.

 

"The numbers are so alarming - it really means that we have to step up our response and that the situation in Myanmar has to be addressed urgently."

The latest flight of Rohingya began two weeks ago after Rohingya insurgents attacked security force posts in Myanmar's Rakhine State. That triggered an army counteroffensive in which at least 400 people died.

 

The United States, a principle backer of Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government that came to power in Myanmar last year, said there had been shortcomings on the part of Myanmar security forces and the government in dealing with the situation.

 

Patrick Murphy, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asia, said Washington was calling in talks with Myanmar's military and civilian leaders for urgent restoration of access to Rakhine State for humanitarian assistance and journalists.

 

He said the security forces must respond responsibly to the attacks that began the crisis, telling reporters: "They have a responsibility to carry out those activities in accordance with rule of law and international human rights"

 

Rights groups briefed U.N. Security Council diplomats on the Myanmar violence on Friday. Russia and China did not send any diplomats, according to people at the meeting. Myanmar has said it is was counting on China and Russia to protect it from any Security Council censure.

 

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke with Suu Kyi by phone on Wednesday and reiterated his concerns about the situation in Rakhine State, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told Reuters.

 

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said the United States was "deeply troubled by continued reports of attacks against innocent civilians and will continue to urge (Myanmar) security forces to respect those civilians as it conducts security operations."

 

Washington was also calling on Myanmar to ensure that aid reached those in need as quickly as possible, "and that it is delivered in a manner that protects their rights and dignity,” she said in a statement.

 

The wave of refugees, many sick or wounded, has strained the resources of aid agencies and communities already helping hundreds of thousands displaced by previous waves of violence in Myanmar. Many have no shelter, and aid agencies are racing to provide clean water, sanitation and food.

 

"We need to prepare for many more to come, I am afraid," said Shinni Kubo, Bangladesh country manager for UNHCR. "We need huge financial resources. This is unprecedented. This is dramatic. It will continue for weeks and weeks."

 

While most refugees are coming on foot, many are braving the sea. At least 300 boats carrying Rohingya arrived in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district on Wednesday, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said.

 

Buddhist-majority Myanmar says its security forces are fighting a legitimate campaign against "terrorists" it blames for the attacks on the security forces, burning homes and civilian deaths.

 

It says about 30,000 non-Muslims have been displaced.

 

The 1.1 million Rohingya living in Myanmar have long complained of persecution. They are denied citizenship and regarded as illegal migrants from Bangladesh.

 

BURNED BUILDINGS

 

There is very limited access to the north of Rakhine State and few if any independent witnesses, raising fears that a humanitarian crisis could be unfolding among Rohingya still there.

 

"What we know is what people are saying as they come across, and what they're saying now, given this been going on since Aug. 25, is they are in an absolutely desperate state," said IOM's Leonard Doyle.

 

"They say (they are) living out in (the) open, without protection from the tropical sun with their children, without enough food to eat."

 

Bangladesh has proposed "safe zones" run by aid groups for Rohingya in Myanmar. But it would seem the plan is unlikely to be accepted there.

 

Human Rights Watch said satellite images taken last Saturday showed hundreds of burned buildings in Maungdaw, a district capital in Rakhine State, in areas primarily inhabited by Rohingya.

 

"If safety cannot even be found in area capitals, then no place may be safe," said Phil Robertson, the group's deputy Asia director.

 

A Myanmar reporter in the north of the state said he had reports from residents of an area called Rathedaung that six villages there had been torched and that there had also been shooting in the area. It was not clear who was responsible.

 

Critics have accused Suu Kyi of not speaking out for the Rohingya and some have called for the Nobel Peace Prize she won in 1991 as a champion of democracy to be revoked.

 

The United States has been careful to avoid direct criticism of Suu Kyi, and Murphy said Washington was looking to help Myanmar's transition to democracy succeed.

 

He noted that most authority in Rakhine State lay with the military, which wielded direct power in Myanmar for decades before Suu Kyi's election win.

 

Murphy called for implementation of recommendations of a commission led by former U.N. chief Kofi Annan set up to find solutions for the ethnically and religiously divided Rakhine.

 

"The fact that over a million people inside the country have been devoid of basic rights for generations has been a long-standing issue," Murphy said. "It needs to be addressed."

 

Protests against the treatment of the Rohingya were held in several countries, including Muslim-majority Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia. Others were held outside Myanmar's embassies in Tokyo and Manila.

 

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said he was considering raising the issue in talks with U.S. President Donald Trump next week.

 

Malaysia's coastguard said it was willing to offer Rohingya temporary shelter, although it is unlikely refugees would travel hundreds of kilometres south by sea during the monsoon season, which lasts until late November.

 

Thailand has also said it is preparing to receive people fleeing Myanmar, while Singapore said it was ready to help the humanitarian effort.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-09-09

[BuaBS]

Another million to go then.

[eggers]

And what has the UN done about it......NOTHING!!

UN = Useless Nonces..

Should be disbanded only serves as a slush fund for Ex Politicians & their Cronies....

 

Meanwhile, Aung San Suu Kyi, simply blames the issue on unnamed 'Terrorists" , while she & military puppeteers sit on sidelines & watch the humanitarian disaster unfold....

Then, Thumper & his ilk give tacit comments to justify they're aware of issue.....though, doubt Thumper could even spell the name, nor even  know, where Myanmar is!!  

[sawadee1947]

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Critics have accused Suu Kyi of not speaking out for the Rohingya and some have called for the Nobel Peace Prize she won in 1991 as a champion of democracy to be revoked.

 

Yes, that would be her DUTY. And for what she got the prize?

The main problem in Burma is that the Buddhist radicals are getting loud and do everything to expel the Rohingyas from their country where they are born same as their grand families before. Burma should become a Buddhist country. No Muslims allowed. There are also movements in Thailand

[Tchooptip]

"An estimated 270,000 Rohingya have sought refuge in Bangladesh"

So whatever was said not said, whatever was done not done in the meantime Myanmar reaches its goal!

[drchuckknisley]

What the world does not seem to know is that there are dozens of countries that do not want certain religions in their countries. China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Russia are all staunch supporters of "stay our" to their un-favored religions. Myamar's (Burma's) casting out the Rohingyas is no big deal. This group were transplants on their own and were never welcome. So they need to go back home to their mother country....Bangladesh

[wolf81]

Any country (or specific area in a country) that reaches a certain tipping point in Muslim population is bound to face terrorism, intimidation, resistance to integration, etc... The area of Myanmar where the Rohingya live is not different in this respect.

 

I feel kind of sorry for the women and children involved, but I understand Suu Kyi's position. And apparently the Buddhist population already faced a lot of terror from the Muslim population in the past. 

 

https://twitter.com/V_of_Europe/status/905192706590351365

 

For Muslims it's just best to live in a country with other Muslims. It will be a shitty country sure, but for the world as a whole it will be better.

 

The EU will face the same shit in the future as the EU seems unwilling to close it's outer borders and restrict immigration of certain populations. 

 

Which is why I will look to leave Europe next year. 

[Morch]

7 hours ago, eggers said:

And what has the UN done about it......NOTHING!!

UN = Useless Nonces..

Should be disbanded only serves as a slush fund for Ex Politicians & their Cronies....

 

Meanwhile, Aung San Suu Kyi, simply blames the issue on unnamed 'Terrorists" , while she & military puppeteers sit on sidelines & watch the humanitarian disaster unfold....

Then, Thumper & his ilk give tacit comments to justify they're aware of issue.....though, doubt Thumper could even spell the name, nor even  know, where Myanmar is!!  

 

Do tell...what can the UN do? Would you like to see the UN acting as some sort of world government? Guess there would be complaints if that came about too. Then there are them millions of refugees and displaced persons already under the UN's wing. Expecting an instant magic solution is not realistic. Especially not when no one really cares much about the Rohingya or Myanmar.

 

UN: We lack the resources to handle the Rohingya crisis

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/09/lack-resources-handle-rohingya-crisis-170908165634486.html

[cooked]

21 hours ago, sawadee1947 said:

Yes, that would be her DUTY. And for what she got the prize?

The main problem in Burma is that the Buddhist radicals are getting loud and do everything to expel the Rohingyas from their country where they are born same as their grand families before. Burma should become a Buddhist country. No Muslims allowed. There are also movements in Thailand

The main problem is that an oil terminal  supplying China was opened in April in the Rakhine, and a major port is planned, also in the Rakhine, for the Silk Road project.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have been financing and training ARSA operatives since 2011 when the oil pipeline project was signed. Look at my attachment. 500 000 refugees from Bangladesh (they were on the wrong side during the Pakistan/Bangladesh war, 1971) arrived in Burma, must have multiplied to a million or so along with all the illegal border crossings since then.

They have always been seen as interlopers by the Burmese (but who cares about what they think?) and have started to form no-go zones in the Rakhine.

I am very sorry for the plight of the Rohingyas, many of whom have been attacked by ARSA itself. They are just pawns in this power struggle and remind me of the plight of the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.

Ever heard of the persecution of Buddhist ethnic minorities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh? Of course not, they aren't Muslims, are they?

[taipan1949]

On 9/9/2017 at 10:45 AM, eggers said:

And what has the UN done about it......NOTHING!!

UN = Useless Nonces..

Should be disbanded only serves as a slush fund for Ex Politicians & their Cronies....

 

Meanwhile, Aung San Suu Kyi, simply blames the issue on unnamed 'Terrorists" , while she & military puppeteers sit on sidelines & watch the humanitarian disaster unfold....

Then, Thumper & his ilk give tacit comments to justify they're aware of issue.....though, doubt Thumper could even spell the name, nor even  know, where Myanmar is!!  

Trump is pissed off that this Third World Backwater Country can get rid of the pestilence of Islam and he is the most powerful man in the free world and he gets screwed over when he tries to rinse this filth of Islam from America. Must be frustrating? I feel sorry for him. If he was the Clintons he would just have the Judges killed and move on with his agenda. I wish you luck Trump, I hate filthy muslims too.

[taipan1949]

Trump is pissed off that this Third World Backwater Country can get rid of the pestilence of Islam and he is the most powerful man in the free world and he gets screwed over when he tries to rinse this filth of Islam from America. Must be frustrating? I feel sorry for him. If he was the Clintons he would just have the Judges killed and move on with his agenda. I wish you luck Trump, I hate filthy muslims too.