Thousands of Muslim Rohingya fled to Bangladesh

Arakan News Agency
Thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees have fled to Bangladesh in the past 10 days, fleeing military operations in western Myanmar, minority officials said Wednesday.
Since October, the army has been carrying out an offensive in Arakan, amid criticism from the United Nations, which described the move as a “terror policy” against the minority who are stateless.
The Myanmar army announced on August 12, sending reinforcements from hundreds of troops to the region to intensify operations.
Minority leaders have confirmed that at least 3,500 people have crossed into Bangladesh illegally through the Naf River, which separates the two countries, although Dhaka has tightened patrols of the Coast Guard.
Some 120,000 Rohingyas still live in camps set up after the state violence in 2012, and rely on aid organizations for basic supplies.
Many newcomers are forced to sleep in the open because of overcrowded camps, AFP reported.
Bangladesh has estimated about 400,000 Rohingya refugees on its soil as a result of previous waves of violence.
By late 2016, the army’s offensive had resulted in some 70,000 Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh, and they spoke of soldiers carrying out extrajudicial acts of violence such as mass gang rapes, killings and torture.