A new wave of sectarian violence in western Myanmar has left five people dead and dozens injured in recent days, triggering another exodus of Muslims to emergency camps, officials said on Thursday.
Hundreds of homes have been burned in the fresh outburst of unrest in Rakhine state, where Buddhist-Muslim clashes have killed at least 95 people since June and displaced tens of thousands, according to the authorities.
“At least five people have been killed and about 80 people injured in four days since October 21 in four townships,” said Rakhine state spokesman Myo Thant.
Houses were also torched in another town on Thursday morning, he said by telephone from the Rakhine state capital Sittwe.
“Soldiers are now helping to provide security,” he added.
Tensions remain at boiling point across Rakhine state with a curfew in force in many areas, while tens of thousands of Muslim Rohingya languish in basic camps.
Hundreds more Rohingya have arrived in the state capital Sittwe by boat this week to seek shelter in the camps.