UNHCR: 73,000 refugees arrive in Bangladesh from Myanmar

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The United Nations refugee agency said Monday 73,000 Rohingya people have come to Bangladesh, after violence killed hundreds in Myanmar's restive Rakhine state, late last month.

"Aid agencies estimate 73,000 people entered Bangladesh from Myanmar as of Sunday since Aug. 25," said UN High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR) spokeswoman Vivian Tan.

Tan added they are providing shelter and basic aid to the newly arrived Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazaar, some 292 km southeast of Bangladesh capital Dhaka.

Rohingya refugees travel on an open-back truck on Teknaf-Cox's Bazar highway near Kutupalong refugee camp in Ukhiya, Bangladesh, on September 3, 2017. /AFP Photo

Thousands of the stateless Muslim minority have fled the mainly Buddhist nation and poured over the border since the latest round of fighting broke out, piling pressure on the already overcrowded camps in Bangladesh.

Around 20,000 more were massed on the border between Bangladesh and Myanmar's western state of Rakhine and waiting to enter, the UN said in a report.

Dhaka stepped up border controls after the latest round of violence began 10 days ago.

But in recent days Bangladeshi border guards appeared to be allowing the fleeing refugees to enter and the UN said recent arrivals reported there had been no attempt to prevent them from crossing.

Rohingya refugees rest under a makeshift tent in a meadow in Ukhiya, Bangladesh, on September 3, 2017. /AFP Photo

However, according to The Guardian, Myanmar has still blocked all UN aid agencies from delivering vital supplies of food, water and medicine to thousands of desperate civilians at the center of the bloody military campaign.

“Because the security situation and government field-visit restrictions rendered us unable to distribute assistance”, said the office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Myanmar.

Over the last five years, Rakhine has been divided along ethnic and religious lines, but the current violence is the worst yet.

Scores of people have drowned attempting to cross the Naf border river, many in makeshift boats.

Most of the new arrivals have crammed into camps near the border, where the UN said local people were helping the relief effort.

Rohingya refugees from Rakhine state in Myanmar walk along a path near Teknaf in Bangladesh on September 2, 2017./AFP Photo

On the other hand, Indonesia's foreign minister is due to meet Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday to discuss delivering humanitarian aid to members of Myanmar's Rohingya minority, as Indonesian protesters urged their government to take a tougher line.

Dozens of Indonesians protested outside the Myanmar embassy in Jakarta on Monday, calling for a cut in diplomatic ties with Myanmar over violence against its Rohingya Muslim minority.

"We will discuss in detail Indonesia's proposal on how Indonesia can give humanitarian aid to Rakhine state," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said in a video statement from the Myanmar city of Yangon.

She is also scheduled to travel to Bangladesh to urge authorities there to protect fleeing Rohingya refugees.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (L) meets with Myanmar's State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi (R) in Naypyidaw on September 4, 2017. /AFP Photo

Rakhine has been a crucible of religious violence since 2012, when riots erupted. Scores of Rohingya were killed and tens of thousands of people - the majority from the Muslim minority - were forced into displacement camps.

The latest round of violence erupted when Rohingya militants attacked remote police posts, killing 15 officials and burning villages.

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters ,Xinhua News Agency