“Hundreds of people displaced by the violence are still crossing into Bangladesh. An estimated 73,000 people have entered into Bangladesh as of Sunday morning,” Joseph Tripura, spokesman for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Dhaka, said.
The estimate is based on witnesses’ accounts and reports by the local and international non-governmental organisations working for the Rohingya refugees in southeastern Bangladeshi district of Cox’s Bazar bordering Rakhine state, he said.
The deaths of nearly 400 people in attacks and counter-attacks between suspected Rohingya insurgents and Myanmar security forces on August 25 forced the minority Muslims to cross in their thousands to neighbouring Bangladesh for safety.
Many others have been trapped in the border between the two countries awaiting shelter, food and security. Dozens have died trying to cross a river into Bangladesh in an effort to escape the
unrest.
The refugees alleged the security forces carried out attacks on civilians, torched their homes and drive them out of Rakhine.
The army says they responded to co-ordinated attacks by the insurgents on the police and military.
The UNHCR official said local volunteers were trying to reach the displaced people with emergency support.
“Many of (the Rohingya refugees) were provided with temporary shelters at school buildings and community centres,” Tripura said, adding that a full-fledged need assessment for the newly landed refugees would take a great deal of time to prepare as the migrant inflow is continuing unabated.