UN keeps on pushing Dhaka for accepting Rohingyas
Dhaka, June 15 (UNB) - The UN refugee agency on Friday urged Bangladesh to open its borders to people fleeing an outbreak of violence between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and ethnic Rohingya Muslims in Burma.
In a statement, the UNHCR said those trying to escape are not able to find the "safety and security they desperately need."
The UNHCR says it has credible reports that Bangladeshi security forces are pushing back refugee boats when they arrive on their territory. Women, children and wounded people are among those on the boats.
United Nations refugee spokesman, Andrej Mahecic, says the UNHCR is deeply concerned that people fleeing violence in Burma’s Rakhine State are unable to seek asylum in neighboring Bangladesh. He says the desperate situation of the minority-Rohingya Muslims is being made worse by their inability to find a safe, secure refuge.
Mahecic said. "There are now a number of boats adrift in the mouth of the Naf River. We have been talking to the Bangladeshi authorities and we hope that Bangladesh will, in line with its long tradition of hospitality with the people from Myanmar [Burma], will allow access to a safe haven and to assistance for these people.”
Mahecic says people on board these vessels are in desperate need of water, food and medical care. Bangladeshi guards reportedly have turned back many boats carrying hundreds of people.
Deadly ethnic clashes between the Rohingya and Buddist Rakhine minority flared up in Burma’s Rakhine state one week ago. An estimated 30 people have been killed in the violence.
The officials say tens of thousands of people have been displaced and more than 2,500 homes burned.
Mahecic says a UN team traveled to the affected region this week to assess the situation.
“The team saw smoldering villages. Based on what we saw, we consider that the displacement could be considerable. The government estimates that some 30,000 people have been displaced. There are efforts under way to calm the situation. The situation is tense still,” he said.
The UN spokesman says the refugee agency was forced to temporarily withdraw its staff from the area last week because of the dangerous situation.
Mahecic says he hopes it will be possible for the staff to return soon to monitor the situation on the ground and to provide essential needs to the displaced.
Earlier, on Wednesday the United States voiced concern over the reports that Bangladesh is turning back Rohingyas fleeing the ethnic violence in Myanmar and urged the government to allow the refugees.
"We’re concerned that Bangladeshi authorities appear to have intercepted and turned back persons fleeing the ethnic and religious violence in Burma," State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters in Washington on Wednesday.
She stressed, "We’ve been urging the government of Bangladesh to respect its international obligations under the relevant refugee conventions and to continue its longstanding policy of non-refoulement of refugees."
Rohingyas are trying to intrude into Bangladesh by boats since the riot broke out between at Muangdaw district in coastal Rakhine state last Friday.
Hundreds of Rohingyas have been turned away by the members of Border Guards Bangladesh and Coast Guard after attempting to flee the fighting.
Earlier, on Tuesday, the government said it would not allow any more refugees in Bangladesh as the county is already overburdened with more that five lakh Rohingyas.
The government authorities also directed the local administration and law enforcement agencies to beef up vigilance and resist the intrusion.
In a statement, the UNHCR said those trying to escape are not able to find the "safety and security they desperately need."
The UNHCR says it has credible reports that Bangladeshi security forces are pushing back refugee boats when they arrive on their territory. Women, children and wounded people are among those on the boats.
United Nations refugee spokesman, Andrej Mahecic, says the UNHCR is deeply concerned that people fleeing violence in Burma’s Rakhine State are unable to seek asylum in neighboring Bangladesh. He says the desperate situation of the minority-Rohingya Muslims is being made worse by their inability to find a safe, secure refuge.
Mahecic said. "There are now a number of boats adrift in the mouth of the Naf River. We have been talking to the Bangladeshi authorities and we hope that Bangladesh will, in line with its long tradition of hospitality with the people from Myanmar [Burma], will allow access to a safe haven and to assistance for these people.”
Mahecic says people on board these vessels are in desperate need of water, food and medical care. Bangladeshi guards reportedly have turned back many boats carrying hundreds of people.
Deadly ethnic clashes between the Rohingya and Buddist Rakhine minority flared up in Burma’s Rakhine state one week ago. An estimated 30 people have been killed in the violence.
The officials say tens of thousands of people have been displaced and more than 2,500 homes burned.
Mahecic says a UN team traveled to the affected region this week to assess the situation.
“The team saw smoldering villages. Based on what we saw, we consider that the displacement could be considerable. The government estimates that some 30,000 people have been displaced. There are efforts under way to calm the situation. The situation is tense still,” he said.
The UN spokesman says the refugee agency was forced to temporarily withdraw its staff from the area last week because of the dangerous situation.
Mahecic says he hopes it will be possible for the staff to return soon to monitor the situation on the ground and to provide essential needs to the displaced.
Earlier, on Wednesday the United States voiced concern over the reports that Bangladesh is turning back Rohingyas fleeing the ethnic violence in Myanmar and urged the government to allow the refugees.
"We’re concerned that Bangladeshi authorities appear to have intercepted and turned back persons fleeing the ethnic and religious violence in Burma," State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters in Washington on Wednesday.
She stressed, "We’ve been urging the government of Bangladesh to respect its international obligations under the relevant refugee conventions and to continue its longstanding policy of non-refoulement of refugees."
Rohingyas are trying to intrude into Bangladesh by boats since the riot broke out between at Muangdaw district in coastal Rakhine state last Friday.
Hundreds of Rohingyas have been turned away by the members of Border Guards Bangladesh and Coast Guard after attempting to flee the fighting.
Earlier, on Tuesday, the government said it would not allow any more refugees in Bangladesh as the county is already overburdened with more that five lakh Rohingyas.
The government authorities also directed the local administration and law enforcement agencies to beef up vigilance and resist the intrusion.
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