UN agency warns against Myanmar’s planned repatriation of Rohingya refugees without first ensuring their safety
- UNHCR issued the warning after the Myanmar government said on Sunday that it would begin repatriating more than 700,000 Rohingya
- The exodus began after a brutal government crackdown that led to accusations of ethnic cleansing and genocide
Rohingya Muslims in Bangladesh should not be returned to Myanmar until an assessment has been carried out to ensure their safety, the United Nations refugee agency warned on Monday.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees issued the warning after the Myanmar government said on Sunday that it would begin repatriating the more than 700,000 Rohingya who have fled from Rakhine state in western Myanmar to escape deadly violence carried out by the country’s security forces.
“Myanmar authorities should allow these refugees to undertake such go-and-see visits without prejudice to their right to return at a later date, if indeed the refugees decide after the visits that the current conditions in Rakhine state would not allow them to return in safety and dignity,” the UNHCR said in a statement.
The Rohingya refugees generally have been denied citizenship and civil rights in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, where prejudice against them runs high.