Fighting and attacks drive 45,000 to flee in Myanmar
Published: Friday, May 24th 2024, 12:30
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Violence and attacks by the military and rebel armies have once again driven thousands of civilians to flee their homes in Myanmar in South East Asia. In the north of the Rhakine region, where the Rohingya Muslim minority lives, 45,000 people have fled to the border region with Bangladesh.
This was reported by the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva on Friday. One refugee reported seeing dozens of dead people on the escape route, said the head of the Human Rights Office for Myanmar, James Rodehaver. According to credible reports, the town of Buthidaung has been largely burned down since last Friday. Rodehaver spoke from Bangkok in neighboring Thailand via video link to reporters in Geneva.
It is not yet clear who is responsible for the fires. The military had previously withdrawn from the city. The Arakan Army rebel group had taken command there. According to Rodehaver, they are responsible for at least four beheadings. The UN Human Rights Office called on Bangladesh to grant refugees protection if they ask for it. It called on other countries to support the country financially in this task.
According to Rodehaver, civilians, especially Rohingya, are being harassed by both the military and the Arakan Army and in some cases forcibly recruited "as cannon fodder", as he said. The Muslim minority has no support in the multi-ethnic state. They are discriminated against by practically all sections of the predominantly Buddhist population. More than one million Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh during previous waves of violence. Only around 600,000 Rohingya are believed to still live in Myanmar.
The Arakan Army is one of the three major rebel groups that brought about a turning point in the war against the military by joining forces last year. The military had once again seized power in Myanmar in 2021 after around five years with a civilian government. According to Rodehaver, the army is retreating on practically all fronts.
©Keystone/SDA
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