Human Rights

MSF report says 6,700 Rohingya killed in first month of ‘crackdown’

Photo Credit: Sajad Rafeeq

More than 6,700 Rohingyas have been killed between 25 August and 24 September in violence perpetrated by Buddhist extremists, and supported by the Myanmar state and army.

According to a new report based on interviews with refugees, more than half a million Rohingya have fled northwestern Myanmar into neighboring Bangladesh since a concerted military crackdown began in August, following militant attacks on a border post. Both the UN and the UK have described the campaign as ethnic cleansing.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said at least 9,000 Rohingya died during that period, with more than 71% of the reported deaths caused by violence.

ALSO READ: Photo Essay: Between the Devil and the deep blue sea, children of the Rohingya…

“We met and spoke with survivors of violence in Myanmar, who are now sheltering in overcrowded and unsanitary camps in Bangladesh,” Sidney Wong, MSF Medical Director, said in a statement.

“What we uncovered was staggering, both in terms of the numbers of people who reported a family member died as a result of violence and the horrific ways in which they said they were killed or severely injured.”

He added the “peak in deaths coincides with the launch of the latest ‘clearance operations’ by Myanmar forces in the last week of August.”

Myanmar government spokespersons have repeatedly refused to speak to the media.

ALSO READ: Rohingya crisis: ‘Had to leave my father behind as he couldn’t run anymore’

 

Click to comment
To Top