A humanitarian catastrophe is imminent in western Burma, aid workers say, as tens of thousands of displaced ethnic Muslim Rohingya are being isolated in camps.
Described by a worker as “open air prisons”, the Burmese government has made it clear that the camps for the Rohingya would remain in place for one year.
Those affected by the sectarian unrest have been struggling to receive aid, as Burmese authorities continue to hamper aid efforts. As many as 10 aid workers have been arrested by police, including 5 UN staff.
Chris Lewa, a member of the Arakan Project, which monitors abuse of the Rohingya, noted that a group of monks had allegedly prevented food aid from entering Rohingya displacement camps. Lewa expressed concern that it was an attempt to “starve them out” and drive them out of the country.
The Muslim Rohingya minority community have had to cope with the brunt of emergency measures implemented due to fierce rioting in early June between the minority group and the majority Arakanese.
The official death toll after the rioting has been put at 78, though the real figure may be much higher.
International observers have been banned from visiting the north Arakan state, where the majority of the Rohingya reside.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) have noted that whilst both sides were involved in “terrible violence” the arrests have been focused on the Rohingya.
President Thein Sein, who was recently commended for driving Burma’s reform, unsuccessfully requested UN help in relocating abroad almost one million Rohingya.
Many critics have likened this to mass deportation.
Deputy Asia director at HRW, Elaine Pearson, said the group “would expect a strong international response” to any attempt to deport the Rohingya.
See The Guardian's report here.
