Rohingya influx may reach 10 lakh this year: UN

The Rohingya influx towards Bangladesh may reach 10 lakh this year if the refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state continues, the United Nations said today.

UNCHR Assistant High Commissioner (operations) George Okoth-Obbo and International Organization for Migration (IOM) Director (operations and emergency) Mohammed Abdiker Mohamud said in a joint press conference held in a Gulshan hotel of Dhaka today.

UNCHR Assistant High Commissioner (operations) George Okoth-Obbo and International Organization for Migration (IOM) Director (operations and emergency) Mohammed Abdiker Mohamud speaking in a joint press conference held in Dhaka on September 14, 2017. Photo: Porimol Palma

The two officials urged the international community to extend their support to meet the immediate need to Rohingya Muslim refugees.

Read More: UNSC Meeting on Myanmar: Call for immediate steps to end violence

Responding to a question whether the basic needs provided to the Rohingya refugees are enough, IOM Director Mohammed Abdiker said "not yet."

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UNSC Meeting on Myanmar: Call for immediate steps to end violence

The UN Security Council yesterday expressed concern about excessive force used by Myanmar during its security operation in Rakhine State and called for "immediate steps" to end the violence.

Up to 400,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar for Bangladesh since August 25, with thousands more arriving every day, the Unicef said today.

Around 60 per cent are children, according to preliminary estimates.

Unicef has appealed for $US 7.3 million to provide emergency support to Rohingya children over the next four months.