Protect Rohingya minority group, UNHCR urges Myanmar

United Nations refugee agency UNHCR said that it is worried about Myanmar Rohingya minority and urged Myanmar government to protect them.

"We are deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of civilians in the northern part of Rakhine state, Myanmar. We are urging the government of Myanmar to ensure the protection and dignity of all civilians on its territory in accordance with the rule of law and its international obligations," said a UNHCR statement issued yesterday at its website.

The organization said that many people have been displaced in the ongoing security operation conducted by Myanmar military and this might trigger humanitarian emergency.

"We appeal for calm and for humanitarian access to assess and meet the needs of thousands of people who have reportedly been displaced from their homes by the ongoing security operation. The affected population is believed to be in urgent need of food, shelter and medical care," it said in the statement.

UNHCR urged the government of Myanmar to immediately allow humanitarian actors to resume the life-saving activities they had been carrying out for some 160,000 civilians in northern Rakhine State until such activities were suspended on 9 October.

The organisation also urged Bangladesh government to open its border to the Rohingya people who have fled Myanmar for persecution.

"We are also appealing to the government of Bangladesh to keep its border with Myanmar open and allow safe passage to any civilians from Myanmar fleeing violence," it said.

Myanmar government has been conducting crackdown on Rohingya refugees since dozens of law-enforcement personnel were killed in a militant attacks. Myanmar is blaming Rohingya refugees for the attack. Dozens of Rohingya people were reported killed in the crackdown.