New York, Aug 31 : The number of Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group, who have fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh since border clashes erupted five days ago has reached at least 18,500, the United Nations’ International Office of Migration has said.
The Office of Migration said yesterday that thousands more are unable to cross the border or have found temporary shelter in Sittwe, the capital of the restive state of Rakhine in western Myanmar.
According to reports by Megan Specia and Rick Gladstone in “The New York Times” yesterday, most of those making the journey were women, children and elderly people.
The deadly fighting — between Myanmar’s security forces and a militant group known as the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army — began when militants attacked army and police outposts near the border on last Friday, prompting a swift crackdown by Myanmar’s Government.
International human rights groups called the crackdown far-reaching and fear possible abuses against the Rohingya minority, who have long faced repression in Myanmar. (UNI)
The Office of Migration said yesterday that thousands more are unable to cross the border or have found temporary shelter in Sittwe, the capital of the restive state of Rakhine in western Myanmar.
According to reports by Megan Specia and Rick Gladstone in “The New York Times” yesterday, most of those making the journey were women, children and elderly people.
The deadly fighting — between Myanmar’s security forces and a militant group known as the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army — began when militants attacked army and police outposts near the border on last Friday, prompting a swift crackdown by Myanmar’s Government.
International human rights groups called the crackdown far-reaching and fear possible abuses against the Rohingya minority, who have long faced repression in Myanmar. (UNI)
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