Geneva,
Oct 18: The United Nations refugee agency is concerned about the
humanitarian condition of up to 15,000 Rohingya refugees who are stranded in
paddy fields near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. “Since Sunday night, an
estimated 10,000 to 15,000 Rohingya refugees have entered Bangladesh through
the Anjuman Para border crossing point in Ukhia district in the country’s
south-east,” Andrej Mahecic, spokesperson for the Office of the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), told reporters Tuesday in Geneva. “Many say
they had initially chosen to remain in their homes in Myanmar’s northern
Rakhine state despite repeated threats to leave or be killed. They finally fled
when their villages were set on fire,” he added. Tensions have escalated into
violence in Myanmar’s northern Rakhine state. Since 25 August, an estimated
582,000 Rohingya Muslims have arrived in Bangladesh. As of Tuesday morning, the
new arrivals were still squatting in the paddy fields of Anjuman Para village,
where the sound of gunfire continues to be heard every night from the Myanmar
side. UNHCR is advocating with the Bangladesh authorities to urgently admit
these refugees fleeing violence and increasingly-difficult conditions back
home. UNHCR and our partners are delivering food and water to the stranded
refugees, among them children, women and the elderly who are dehydrated and
hungry from the long journey. “Every minute counts given the fragile condition
they’re arriving in,” said Mr Mahecic. The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said
Tuesday that without immediate additional funding, the agency will not be able
to continue providing lifesaving aid and protection to Rohingya children who
have fled horrific violence in Myanmar. UNICEF spokesperson Marixie Mercado
told reporters in Geneva that almost 60 per cent of the refugees who have fled
Myanmar since August 25 are children. “The growing needs are far outpacing
resources,” she said, noting that as of Tuesday, UNICEF has received just 7 per
cent of the $76 million required to provide emergency support to children over
the next six months. Without more funding, UNICEF would soon have to stop
lifesaving services. “Rohingya children have already endured atrocities. All of
them need the lifesaving basics – shelter, food, water, vaccinations,
protection – not tomorrow or next week or next month, but right now,” she said.
UNI
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