Geneva: The UN refugee agency today urged Bangladesh to provide a safe haven for people fleeing unrest in Myanmar’s Rakhine state after authorities refused entry to boatloads of refugees.
“We have firsthand reports of the Bangladeshi security forces turning back arrivals by boat,” said spokesman Andrej Mahecic. “There are now a number of boats adrift in the mouth of the Naf river” with women, children and wounded onboard, he said. “It is vital that these people are allowed access to a safe haven and shelter.” Sectarian bloodshed has displaced tens of thousands of people, left dozens dead and many homes destroyed, in the western state. The Buddhist Rakhine and Muslim Rohingya have accused each other of violent attacks which have caused more than 30,000 people to flee, according to government figures. “UNHCR recognises that, for years, Bangladesh has been bearing the brunt of the forced displacement caused by earlier crises in Myanmar,” said Mahecic. (AFP)
