Crisis unfolding on our doorstep
PHOTO: Voice of America
A significant regional humanitarian crisis is underway only a few thousand kilometres from our tropical island.
Whilst the situation for the Rohingya has been parlous for decades, it’s only recently become acute after a group calling itself the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army attacked several Myanmar Army outposts on August 25 – the Myanmar Army has been fighting back, hard, and going further by forcing the remaining Rohingya north and across the Bangladesh border. In their wake villages have been burned, woman and children killed and mass graves discovered. Approximately 400,000 Rohingya have now crossed into Bangladesh, to safety? No. The refugee camps being hastily set up along the border are hardly a haven for the fleeing human tragedy. Aid workers are calling for assistance, for international outrage, for food, for help of any kind. But little is forthcoming.
CNN’s Azeem Ibrahim has written an article, more of a plea, to the world’s governments to show some compassion and take action in this unfolding crisis.
Read his story HERE
We’ve also attached a BBC story which provides some background to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, the first to kick off this latest purge against the Rohingya.
Read the background HERE
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