Rohingya: Int'l community urged to stand by Bangladesh

Staff Correspondent: The United Nations' refugee agency UNHCR and and International Organization for Migration (IOM) urged the international community to extend their support to meet the immediate need to Rohingya Muslim refugees.

UNCHR Assistant High Commissioner (operations) George Okoth-Obbo and International Organization for Migration (IOM) Director (operations and emergency) Mohammed Abdiker Mohamud made the call in a joint press conference held in at a hotel in the capital on Thursday.

The two officials said Rohingya influx towards Bangladesh may reach 10 lakh this year if the refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state continues.

Responding to a question whether the basic needs provided to the Rohingya refugees are enough, IOM Director Mohammed Abdiker said “not yet.”

The UN Security Council on Wednesday expressed concern about excessive force used by Myanmar during its security operation in Rakhine State and called for "immediate steps" to end the violence.

Up to 400,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar for Bangladesh since August 25, with thousands more arriving every day, the Unicef said on Thursday.

Around 60 per cent are children, according to preliminary estimates.

Unicef has appealed for $US 7.3 million to provide emergency support to Rohingya children over the next four months.


risingbd/Dhaka/September 14, 2017/Saif/A K Azad