Prime News Ghana

50,000 Rohingya muslims flee violence in Myanmar

By Maame Aba Afful
Bodies of 20 Rohingya pulled out of the Naf River
Bodies of 20 Rohingya pulled out of the Naf River
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The UN estimates that, in just one week, almost 50,000 Rohingya- a stateless, ethnic Muslim minority who largely inhabit Myanmar's western Rakhine state, have fled escalating violence.

Refugees say the Myanmar army attacked them while the government blames Rohingya "terrorists" for initiating the violence.

About 27,000 refugees have crossed into Bangladesh since Friday, and a further 20,000 remain stuck in no-man's land between the two East Asian nations.

On Thursday, the bodies of 20 Rohingya were pulled out of the Naf River along the border of Myanmar and Bangladesh. Twelve of the dead were children.

Government officials said Thursday that at least 399 people had been killed in fighting since last Friday. Of those, 370 were "terrorists," they said. However, activists say the military has killed women, children, and innocent men.

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Both sides also blame each other for torching houses. The government says Rohingya militants have burned down more than 2,300 homes while the Rohingya says it's the military that has attacked their houses.

The Rohingya are a minority Muslim population in Myanmar, however, they're denied the right to citizenship despite having lived there for generations.

Aid organizations and the UN have slammed the Myanmar government for its treatment of the group.

Credit: CNN.com

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