UN warns of deepening humanitarian crisis in Myanmar
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Buy SPH photosBANGKOK (AFP) - The United Nations (UN) refugee agency warned on Tuesday of a "growing humanitarian emergency" in western Myanmar, calling on neighbouring countries to open their borders to people fleeing the sectarian bloodshed.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in a statement that it was "gravely concerned over recent boat tragedies in the Bay of Bengal" that have left dozens of people missing after two vessels capsized.
"UNHCR is calling on countries in the region to strengthen burden-sharing in the face of this growing humanitarian emergency," it said.
Violence pitting Buddhists against members of the Muslim Rohingya minority has left at least 180 people dead in Myanmar's Rakhine state since June and displaced more than 110,000 others, mostly Rohingya.
