Myanmar Hindu refugees who fled from Rakhain found help from human rights group Minorities Online Activist Forum on September 8th.
Activists Satyajit Chowdhury, Ashis Das, Kajol Das and Kollyan Kumar Chand visited the spot and provided aid in the form of food, medicines, and soap to 512 Myanmar Hindu refugees.The food relief is enough to last at least 10 days and the team may again visit to access their situation.
The Myanmar Hindu refugees are currently living at Kutupalong Refugee Camp, Ukhiya Police Station which falls under the Cox’s Bazar district in Bangladesh.
These pictures of Myanmar Hindu refugees living in Bangladesh were provided by the team to journalists:
Myanmar Hindu refugees are yearning to see peace return to Myanmar so that they could return back.
Meanwhile, Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), formerly called Faith Movement or Harakah Al Yaqeen, has announced voluntary ceasefire for from offensive military operations for one month from today.
In a statement, it demanded that Myanmar also “reciprocate this humanitarian pause.” However, Myanmarese Government’s Official Director General, State Counsellor Office, Zaw Htay has declined this offer of ARSA, dubbed a terrorist group by the nation’s government, saying that “We have no policy to negotiate with terrorists.”
We have no policy to negotiate with terrorists. #ARSA terrorists #Rakhine #Myanmar pic.twitter.com/IQStAN9afI
— Zaw Htay (@ZawHtayMyanmar) September 10, 2017
India is worried about the situation in Rakhine but it is refusing to stand against Myanmar. In a statement yesterday the Indian government said that:
“India remains deeply concerned about the situation in Rakhine State in Myanmar and the outflow of refugees from that region.
We had earlier strongly condemned the terrorist attacks on Myanmar security forces in Rakhine State.The two countries have since affirmed their shared determination to combat terrorism and not allow its justification under any pretext.
During Prime Minister’s recent visit to Myanmar, he had expressed his concern at the casualties of security forces as well as other innocent lives. He had also urged a solution based on respect for peace, communal harmony, justice, dignity and democratic values.
It was agreed during the Prime Minister’s visit that India would provide assistance under the Rakhine State Development Programme in conjunction with the Government of Myanmar.
We would urge that the situation in Rakhine State be handled with restraint and maturity, focussing on the welfare of the civilian population alongside those of the security forces. It is imperative that violence is ended and normalcy in the State restored expeditiously.”
India’s stance is not surprising as its ruling party, BJP, ministers have already said that Rohingya refugees who are in India will have to go back and for that peace in Rakhine is a must.
Read more: Myanmar Hindu refugees witnessed murders and rapes of their people
