UN warns of deteriorating situation of Rohingya Muslims

GENEVA – Anadolu Agency

UN human rights officials have warned of the rapidly deteriorating situation in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, as tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have been fleeing towards Bangladesh. 

"The humanitarian situation is deteriorating rapidly and I am concerned that many thousands of people are increasingly at risk of grave violations of their human rights,” Yanghee Lee, the UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, said in a statement late Thursday endorsed by the UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Ahmed Shaheed, and the special rapporteur on minority issues, Fernand de Varennes. 

"Tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims are now reported to be fleeing towards Bangladesh," they said. 

There were multiple credible reports that soldiers in Myanmar used rocket-propelled grenades against civilians moving towards Bangladesh, Lee said. 

"The worsening cycle of violence is of grave concern and must be broken urgently," said Lee. 

Lee decried the failure of authorities in Myanmar to help Rohingya Muslims evacuate to safer locations. 

"More than 27,000 people have crossed into Bangladesh in the area around Cox’s Bazar, while 20,000 more remain stranded between the two countries.

The number continues to grow," Lee said.  "I call on the Government to ensure the immediate provision of assistance to all affected communities in Rakhine State, and grant unfettered access to the United Nations to provide humanitarian assistance," Lee said.