'1,46,000 Rohingyas have crossed into Bangladesh'

Chittagong, Sept 6: At least 1,46,000 Rohingyas have arrived in Bangladesh since August 25, fleeing ongoing violence in northwestern Myanmar, the UN office in Dhaka said on Wednesday.

Robert Watkins, UN Resident Coorditor in Bangladesh, said the figure is 23,000 more than the 1,23,000 estimated by the Office of the United tions High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Tuesday, Efe reports. Thousands of people continue arriving in southeastern Bangladesh through sea, river and land routes, fleeing an aggressive army offensive in the northwestern Myanmar state of Rakhine. According to official figures, over 400 people have died so far in the state. The real figure could be higher as eyewitnesses and human rights organisations have reported indiscrimite firing by the security forces against the local people and torching of entire villages as well as other human rights violations.

Between 3,00,000 and 5,00,000 Rohingyas live in Bangladesh, and only about 32,000 of them have refugee status. (IANS)