MYANMAR: Rohingya crisis: UN ”on full alert” for new exodus

The UN refugee agency says it is on full alert for a new escalation in the Myanmar crisis after more than 11,000 Rohingya Muslims crossed the border into Bangladesh on Monday. Speaking in Geneva, UN officials said many of the new arrivals had walked for days to reach safety. Last week, an average of 2,000 […]

The UN refugee agency says it is on full alert for a new escalation in the Myanmar crisis after more than 11,000 Rohingya Muslims crossed the border into Bangladesh on Monday.

Speaking in Geneva, UN officials said many of the new arrivals had walked for days to reach safety. Last week, an average of 2,000 people a day crossed from Myanmar to Bangladesh. The UN has said that many of the new arrivals are traumatised after fleeing killings and burning villages. They have warned that thousands are at risk of water-borne diseases and some were injured after making the journey. “We’re back in a situation of full alert as far as influxes are concerned. It is a big increase to see 11,000,” UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesman Adrian Edwards told reporters in Geneva.