The United Nations has said that nearly 65,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh since the army launched a crackdown in north of Rakhine state. Out of these 65,000, a third of them have fled over the past week.
The figure marks a sharp escalation in the numbers fleeing a military campaign which rights groups say has been marred by abuses so severe they could amount to crimes against humanity.?
AFP
They also come the same day the UN's human rights envoy for Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, began a 12-day visit to probe violence in the country's borderlands that will take her to the army-controlled area.
"Over the past week, 22,000 new arrivals were reported to have crossed the border from Rakhine state," the UN's relief agency said in its weekly report.
"As of 5 January, an estimated 65,000 people are residing in registered camps, makeshift settlements and host communities in Cox's Bazaar" in southern Bangladesh, said the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Reuters
The major exodus of Rohingyas from northern Rakhine began three months back when Myanmar's army laucnched clearance operations while searching for insurgents behind deadly raids on police posts. Those who managed to escape from Myanmar and entered Bangladesh have narrated horrors of army's attrocitiesd on Rohingyas. The escapees gave harrowing accounts of security forces committing mass rape, murder and arson.?
The stories have cast a pall over the young government of Aung San Suu Kyi, with mainly Muslim Malaysia being especially critical. Myanmar's government has said the claims of abuse are fabricated and launched a special commission to investigate the allegations.
AFP
The week the government presented its interim report denying accusations of genocides and religious persecution and said that there are insufficinet eveidence against the troops who have been alleged of raping women. That report came days after a video emerged showing police beating Rohingya civilians, something the government said was an isolated incident after the officers were arrested.
UN's Lee began her own probe after visiting Kachin State where thousands have been displaced amid fighting between the army and the rebels.
AFP
Lee is also scheduled to visit Rakhine before she leaves Myanmar on January 20. Lee has faced threats and demonstrations on her previous visits over her criticism on country's treatment of Rohingyas.?
Hardline Buddhist monk Wirathu caused outrage when he called her a "whore in our country" for criticising controversial legislation considered discriminatory to women and minorities.