HRW calls Bangladesh to protect Rohingya refugees

Calling upon the Bangladesh government to accept and protect Rohingya refugees, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said the country is obligated to allow them to enter into its territory for their protection.

“Under customary international law, Bangladesh may not summarily reject at the border asylum seekers fleeing widespread human rights abuses or generalised violence. It is obligated to allow them to enter the country and seek protection,” an HRW statement said yesterday.

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HRW’s South Asian Director Meenakshi Ganguly said, “Bangladesh has long argued that it cannot afford to host the Rohingya, and it is of course imperative for the international community to provide necessary assistance.”

She said that scores have been killed and over 1200 buildings destroyed in five villages in the predominately ethnic Rohingya areas near Maungdaw township in Myanmar during renewed violence since the October 9 attacks on border guard posts in Burma’s Rakhine State.

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There are allegations of serious abuses by Burma’s security forces, including arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings, and rape. Much of the impacted areas remain sealed to international aid organisations, the statement said.

READ MORE: Refugees slipping in, getting help

The United Nations estimates that 30,000 people have been internally displaced by the violence. Many Rohingya are fleeing, some getting on boats or walking or swimming to seek sanctuary in bordering Bangladesh.

“The Bangladeshi government, however, says it does not want more Rohingya refugees. While there are more than 30,000 registered refugees in the country, authorities estimate that 300,000 to 500,000 unregistered Rohingya are also already living in Bangladesh,” she said.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has pressed the Burmese government to provide immediate humanitarian access to provide aid to the Rohingya in accordance with international law and has asked Bangladesh to keep its border open to any civilians fleeing the violence.

She also said that at the Teknaf camp, the Rohingya survive in “abysmal conditions” at barely subsistence levels.