The UN Security Council is urging Myanmar's government to allow international investigators to help probe allegations of human rights violations against Rohingya Muslims, saying it remains "gravely concerned" at their plight. 
 
In a letter to Myanmar's leaders obtained today by The Associated Press, the council noted the government's commitment to investigate all allegations of violence. 
 
It said independent and transparent investigations "with the involvement of the international community ... Would turn this commitment into concrete action and ensure that all perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses are held to account." 
 
The council also urged Myanmar's government to grant U.N. Agencies and humanitarian organisations immediate access to Rakhine state.

Rohingya insurgent attacks last August were followed by a military crackdown that led some 700,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh.

In a letter to Myanmar's leaders obtained today by The Associated Press, the council noted the government's commitment to investigate all allegations of violence

The UN Security Council is urging Myanmar's government to allow international investigators to help probe allegations of human rights violations against Rohingya Muslims, saying it remains "gravely concerned" at their plight. In a letter to Myanmar's leaders obtained today by The Associated Press, the council noted the government's commitment to investigate all allegations of violence. It said independent and transparent investigations "with the involvement of the international community ... Would turn this commitment into concrete action and ensure that all perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses are held to account." The council also urged Myanmar's government to grant U.N. Agencies and humanitarian organisations immediate access to Rakhine state. Rohingya insurgent attacks last August were followed by a military crackdown that led some 700,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh.

UN: International experts should help probe Myanmar abuses

The United Nations said&nbsp;on Thursday&nbsp;it had struck an outline deal with Myanmar aimed at eventually allowing hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims sheltering in Bangladesh to return safely and by choice.

Since August 2017, about 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled a military crackdown in mainly Buddhist Myanmar, many reporting killings, rape and arson on a large scale, U.N. and other aid organisations have said.

"Since the conditions are not conducive for voluntary return yet, the MoU (memorandum of understanding) is the first and necessary step to support the government`s efforts to change that situation," the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in a statement.

Myanmar`s government said in a brief statement late&nbsp;on Thursday&nbsp;the MoU would be signed "soon" and U.N. agencies would "support access to livelihoods through the design and implementation of community-based interventions".

Myanmar civilian government spokesman Zaw Htay said he had nothing to add to the statement.

Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in January to complete the voluntary repatriation of the refugees&nbsp;within two years&nbsp;but differences between the two sides persist, impeding implementation of the plan.

In a separate statement&nbsp;on Thursday, Myanmar`s government said it would set up an independent commission to investigate "the violation of human rights and related issues" in Rakhine State following the army operation there in response to attacks by Rohingya insurgents on security posts.

The commission will be assisted by international experts, the statement said without elaborating.

In the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, senior UNHCR official George William Okoth-Obbo told reporters after a five-day visit to Rohingya refugee camps along the border that conditions in Myanmar did not yet allow a "safe and sustainable return".

Okoth-Obbo said an immediate challenge for humanitarian agencies was to relocate 200,000 Rohingya refugees threatened by seasonal monsoon flooding and landslides to a safer place.

The United Nations and aid agencies have described the crackdown on the Rohingya as "a textbook example of ethnic cleansing", an accusation Myanmar rejects.

The Security Council asked Myanmar in November to ensure no "further excessive use of military force" and to allow "freedom of movement, equal access to basic services, and equal access to full citizenship for all".

Myanmar has for years denied Rohingya citizenship, freedom of movement and access to basic services such as healthcare. Many in Myanmar regard the Rohingya as illegal immigrants from mostly Muslim Bangladesh.

The United Nations said it had struck an outline deal with Myanmar aimed at eventually allowing hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims sheltering in Bangladesh

The United Nations said on Thursday it had struck an outline deal with Myanmar aimed at eventually allowing hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims sheltering in Bangladesh to return safely and by choice. Since August 2017, about 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled a military crackdown in mainly Buddhist Myanmar, many reporting killings, rape and arson on a large scale, U.N. and other aid organisations have said. "Since the conditions are not conducive for voluntary return yet, the MoU (memorandum of understanding) is the first and necessary step to support the government`s efforts to change that situation," the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in a statement. Myanmar`s government said in a brief statement late on Thursday the MoU would be signed "soon" and U.N. agencies would "support access to livelihoods through the design and implementation of community-based interventions". Myanmar civilian government spokesman Zaw Htay said he had nothing to add to the statement. Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in January to complete the voluntary repatriation of the refugees within two years but differences between the two sides persist, impeding implementation of the plan. In a separate statement on Thursday, Myanmar`s government said it would set up an independent commission to investigate "the violation of human rights and related issues" in Rakhine State following the army operation there in response to attacks by Rohingya insurgents on security posts. The commission will be assisted by international experts, the statement said without elaborating. In the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, senior UNHCR official George William Okoth-Obbo told reporters after a five-day visit to Rohingya refugee camps along the border that conditions in Myanmar did not yet allow a "safe and sustainable return". Okoth-Obbo said an immediate challenge for humanitarian agencies was to relocate 200,000 Rohingya refugees threatened by seasonal monsoon flooding and landslides to a safer place. The United Nations and aid agencies have described the crackdown on the Rohingya as "a textbook example of ethnic cleansing", an accusation Myanmar rejects. The Security Council asked Myanmar in November to ensure no "further excessive use of military force" and to allow "freedom of movement, equal access to basic services, and equal access to full citizenship for all". Myanmar has for years denied Rohingya citizenship, freedom of movement and access to basic services such as healthcare. Many in Myanmar regard the Rohingya as illegal immigrants from mostly Muslim Bangladesh.

UN and Myanmar agree outline of Rohingya return deal, no details

The Myanmar government said today Rohingya refugees have begun&nbsp;arriving in Rakhine State after the signing of the&nbsp;Dhaka Nayi Paw Daw pact in November last year.&nbsp;

"In accordance with the agreement, arrangements have been made to receive the returnees at Nga Khu Ya and Taung Pyo Latwe reception centres," the Myanmar government said in a press release.

Myanmar witnessed mass exodus of Rohingyas due to alleged large-scale violence by the nation's Army with thousands turning up in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazaar. &nbsp;As the refugees began to arrive, Bangladesh requested Myanmar to take them resulting in an agreement between the two sides.

"This arrangement concerns only those who have not been in involved in terrorism," the government warned, adding that "effective action will be taken against those implicated in terrorist acts in accordance with the law."

The mass migration of Rohingyas from Myanmar was condemned both by the US and UN who called it a case of "ethnic cleansing" as reports circulated of villages being burnt and several Rohingyas being&nbsp;killed in the country.

The government said the several did not know the repatriation process, as a result, the "returnees were arrested under the existing laws and some were given prison sentences."

"As a result, the displaced persons who no longer find it tenable to continue their stay in the camps in Cox's bazaar began returning to Rakhine State of their own volition and under their own arrangements," it said.

"In accordance with the bilateral agreement, the returnees should be properly processed, verified and accepted without any action being taken against them. In order to implement his process, the president has pardoned 58 persons," the government said.

"These people were released from prison and sent to Nga Khu Ya reception camp on May 26th, after necessary verification, they will be transferred to the transit camp in Hla Phoe Khaung," the government added.

The government said the several did not know the repatriation process.

The Myanmar government said today Rohingya refugees have begun arriving in Rakhine State after the signing of the Dhaka Nayi Paw Daw pact in November last year. "In accordance with the agreement, arrangements have been made to receive the returnees at Nga Khu Ya and Taung Pyo Latwe reception centres," the Myanmar government said in a press release. Myanmar witnessed mass exodus of Rohingyas due to alleged large-scale violence by the nation's Army with thousands turning up in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazaar. As the refugees began to arrive, Bangladesh requested Myanmar to take them resulting in an agreement between the two sides. "This arrangement concerns only those who have not been in involved in terrorism," the government warned, adding that "effective action will be taken against those implicated in terrorist acts in accordance with the law." The mass migration of Rohingyas from Myanmar was condemned both by the US and UN who called it a case of "ethnic cleansing" as reports circulated of villages being burnt and several Rohingyas being killed in the country. The government said the several did not know the repatriation process, as a result, the "returnees were arrested under the existing laws and some were given prison sentences." "As a result, the displaced persons who no longer find it tenable to continue their stay in the camps in Cox's bazaar began returning to Rakhine State of their own volition and under their own arrangements," it said. "In accordance with the bilateral agreement, the returnees should be properly processed, verified and accepted without any action being taken against them. In order to implement his process, the president has pardoned 58 persons," the government said. "These people were released from prison and sent to Nga Khu Ya reception camp on May 26th, after necessary verification, they will be transferred to the transit camp in Hla Phoe Khaung," the government added.

After pact with Bangladesh, Rohingyas begin arriving in Myanmar

The World Bank (WB) is going to provide Bangladesh with a grant to meet the basic needs of around one million Rohingyas who fled their homeland Myanmar.

"The World Bank has agreed to provide Bangladesh with the full fund as grant money at its spring meeting held in April in the US," The Daily Star quoted Additional Secretary of the Economic Relations Division of the government Mahmuda Begum as saying.

However, neither the government nor the WB could confirm the amount.

A WB team will be visiting Bangladesh to discuss the issue with the government.

Bangladesh sought assistance from the WB, in October last year.

It said it would provide a mix of soft loans and grant, but Bangladesh refused to take loans.

Bangladesh Finance Minister AMA Muhith told the WB that the amount would be somewhere between $400 to $500 million and it would be a grant.

But the WB rejected the request saying, such a big amount could not be given as a grant.

As per the WB's conditions, the entire fund that the WB has finally agreed to provide Bangladesh with will have to be spent for the Rohingyas only.

The grant amount has not been confirmed — neither by the Bangladesh government, nor the World Bank

The World Bank (WB) is going to provide Bangladesh with a grant to meet the basic needs of around one million Rohingyas who fled their homeland Myanmar. "The World Bank has agreed to provide Bangladesh with the full fund as grant money at its spring meeting held in April in the US," The Daily Star quoted Additional Secretary of the Economic Relations Division of the government Mahmuda Begum as saying. However, neither the government nor the WB could confirm the amount. A WB team will be visiting Bangladesh to discuss the issue with the government. Bangladesh sought assistance from the WB, in October last year. It said it would provide a mix of soft loans and grant, but Bangladesh refused to take loans. Bangladesh Finance Minister AMA Muhith told the WB that the amount would be somewhere between $400 to $500 million and it would be a grant. But the WB rejected the request saying, such a big amount could not be given as a grant. As per the WB's conditions, the entire fund that the WB has finally agreed to provide Bangladesh with will have to be spent for the Rohingyas only.

World Bank to give Bangladesh grant to meet basic needs of 1 million Rohingya refugees

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News brief: Big stories of the day

UN Secretary-General <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-pm-appeals-oic-to-stand-beside-rohingyas-134900">Antonio Guterres said on Thursday</a> several thousand Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh camps should be relocated in order to save them from floods as they were "extremely vulnerable to the monsoon." .

"The monsoon is the biggest concern," Guterres told reporters at UN headquarters in New York.

The UN chiefs <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/violence-against-rohingya-exposed-in-shocking-photos-131241">views come amid reports</a> of Bangladesh planning to relocate the Rohingyas to an island, however, there are no immediate reports of it being ready.

"Higher ground is the best place for this kind of relocation," the UN chief added.

Over 700,000 Rohingyas have fled Myanmar since August last year after reports emerged of persecution by the Army.

Bangladesh was hit by an exodus of refugees with both the UN and the US calling the Myanmar military government to stop the "ethnic cleansing".

Guterres said the UN is in touch with the Bangladesh government on finding a permanent base for the Rohingyas, even though the outcome of the backroom talks is still not clear.

Bangladesh was hit by an exodus of refugees with both the UN and the US calling the Myanmar military government to stop the "ethnic cleansing".

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday several thousand Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh camps should be relocated in order to save them from floods as they were "extremely vulnerable to the monsoon." . "The monsoon is the biggest concern," Guterres told reporters at UN headquarters in New York. The UN chiefs views come amid reports of Bangladesh planning to relocate the Rohingyas to an island, however, there are no immediate reports of it being ready. "Higher ground is the best place for this kind of relocation," the UN chief added. Over 700,000 Rohingyas have fled Myanmar since August last year after reports emerged of persecution by the Army. Bangladesh was hit by an exodus of refugees with both the UN and the US calling the Myanmar military government to stop the "ethnic cleansing". Guterres said the UN is in touch with the Bangladesh government on finding a permanent base for the Rohingyas, even though the outcome of the backroom talks is still not clear.

Rohingyas should be relocated: UN to Bangladesh

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina requested the Muslim countries under the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to stoutly stand beside the forcibly deported Rohingyas to protect their dignity and security.

Addressing the inaugural session of the 45th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of OIC, she told the members of OIC that there is no scope for the organization to overlook this crisis.

"My appeal to the OIC is to stand solidly beside the forcibly deported Rohingyas in safeguarding their dignity and security. The Holy Prophet's (SAW) message for us was to stand beside the distressed humanity. When the

Rohingya community of Myanmar is being subjected to 'ethnic cleansing,' the OIC fraternity cannot overlook it," Dhaka Tribune quoted Prime Minister Hasina as saying.

The inaugural began at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in Dhaka.

She appealed the OIC to exert international pressure on Myanmar authorities so that it delivers on the ground and speeds up the repatriation process.

Hasina focused on five points before the OIC Foreign Ministers, saying the Muslim world has no reason to fall behind.

Firstly, to have trust in the basic Islamic faith and stop using religion as a tool for divisive political purposes. Secondly, the OIC members should politically resolve their issues without anyone's intervention. Thirdly, to live an enlightened life of self-awareness. Fourthly, to undertake a fast-track development course in order to eliminate poverty and hunger. And lastly, to get inspired by the eternal values of Islam- peace, moderation and equality.

She asked OIC members to implement its OIC-2025 Program of Action.

Hasina also said that, Muslim identity was mistakenly being equated with that of extremism and violence.

A number of 57 countries, including 52 members of the OIC are participating in the OIC CMF. The 45th session of the CFM will end with a closing session preceded by a brainstorming session focusing on the Humanitarian specially on Rohingyas," on Sunday.

The theme of this year's meeting is "Islamic Values for Sustainable Peace, Solidarity and Development."

This is the second time Bangladesh is hosting the CFM, under a democratic government. It was last conducted in 1983. 
&nbsp

Addressing the inaugural session of the 45th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of OIC, she told the members of OIC that there is no scope for the organization to overlook this crisis

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina requested the Muslim countries under the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to stoutly stand beside the forcibly deported Rohingyas to protect their dignity and security. Addressing the inaugural session of the 45th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of OIC, she told the members of OIC that there is no scope for the organization to overlook this crisis. "My appeal to the OIC is to stand solidly beside the forcibly deported Rohingyas in safeguarding their dignity and security. The Holy Prophet's (SAW) message for us was to stand beside the distressed humanity. When the Rohingya community of Myanmar is being subjected to 'ethnic cleansing,' the OIC fraternity cannot overlook it," Dhaka Tribune quoted Prime Minister Hasina as saying. The inaugural began at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in Dhaka. She appealed the OIC to exert international pressure on Myanmar authorities so that it delivers on the ground and speeds up the repatriation process. Hasina focused on five points before the OIC Foreign Ministers, saying the Muslim world has no reason to fall behind. Firstly, to have trust in the basic Islamic faith and stop using religion as a tool for divisive political purposes. Secondly, the OIC members should politically resolve their issues without anyone's intervention. Thirdly, to live an enlightened life of self-awareness. Fourthly, to undertake a fast-track development course in order to eliminate poverty and hunger. And lastly, to get inspired by the eternal values of Islam- peace, moderation and equality. She asked OIC members to implement its OIC-2025 Program of Action. Hasina also said that, Muslim identity was mistakenly being equated with that of extremism and violence. A number of 57 countries, including 52 members of the OIC are participating in the OIC CMF. The 45th session of the CFM will end with a closing session preceded by a brainstorming session focusing on the Humanitarian specially on Rohingyas," on Sunday. The theme of this year's meeting is "Islamic Values for Sustainable Peace, Solidarity and Development." This is the second time Bangladesh is hosting the CFM, under a democratic government. It was last conducted in 1983.

Bangladesh PM appeals OIC to stand beside Rohingyas

The United Nations Security Council members, who met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi during their mission to Bangladesh and Myanmar, will today visit Rakhine state, the epicentre of the Rohingya refugee crisis.

The council is continuing its mission to Bangladesh and Myanmar, taking a first-hand look at the plight of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees who have fled across the border to escape violence.

The delegation of diplomats from the council's 15 member countries arrived yesterday in Myanmar's capital, Naypyidaw, holding meetings with Suu Kyi as well as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces General Min Aung Hlaing, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters here. The council mission also met with civil society, parliamentarians and government representatives in the capital of Myanmar.&nbsp

"Ambassadors also met with civil society, parliamentarians and government representatives. The council members will today fly to Rakhine state, the epicentre of the mass displacement crisis, which has been caused by a recurring cycle of clashes between mainly Buddhist residents in the state, and Rohingya Muslims who have also lived there for decades," the spokesperson said.

In Rakhine, the delegation is expected to meet local government representatives and civil society.&nbsp

According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), about 671,000 Rohingya refugees have fled targeted violence and serious human rights violations in Myanmar since last August.

Last week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the appointment of Christine Schraner Burgener of Switzerland as his new special envoy on Myanmar, to strengthen the world body's efforts to assist Myanmar's peace and reconciliation process.&nbsp

The UN spokesperson added that over the weekend, the Council delegation visited Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar, where they listened to testimony from refugees at the Kutupalong Camp. Before departing for Myanmar early on Monday, the delegation met with Hasina in Dhaka.

The council is continuing its mission to Bangladesh and Myanmar, taking a first-hand look at the plight of hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas

The United Nations Security Council members, who met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi during their mission to Bangladesh and Myanmar, will today visit Rakhine state, the epicentre of the Rohingya refugee crisis. The council is continuing its mission to Bangladesh and Myanmar, taking a first-hand look at the plight of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees who have fled across the border to escape violence. The delegation of diplomats from the council's 15 member countries arrived yesterday in Myanmar's capital, Naypyidaw, holding meetings with Suu Kyi as well as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces General Min Aung Hlaing, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters here. The council mission also met with civil society, parliamentarians and government representatives in the capital of Myanmar. "Ambassadors also met with civil society, parliamentarians and government representatives. The council members will today fly to Rakhine state, the epicentre of the mass displacement crisis, which has been caused by a recurring cycle of clashes between mainly Buddhist residents in the state, and Rohingya Muslims who have also lived there for decades," the spokesperson said. In Rakhine, the delegation is expected to meet local government representatives and civil society. According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), about 671,000 Rohingya refugees have fled targeted violence and serious human rights violations in Myanmar since last August. Last week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the appointment of Christine Schraner Burgener of Switzerland as his new special envoy on Myanmar, to strengthen the world body's efforts to assist Myanmar's peace and reconciliation process. The UN spokesperson added that over the weekend, the Council delegation visited Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar, where they listened to testimony from refugees at the Kutupalong Camp. Before departing for Myanmar early on Monday, the delegation met with Hasina in Dhaka.

UNSC members to visit Rakhine state today

A group of 76 Rohingyas, which was rescued from Indonesian waters on Friday, was at the sea for nearly nine days. According to reports, a Rohingya Muslim man, among the rescued, claimed that the group kept drifting in a wooden boat for nine days after leaving Myanmar.

The group is reported to have faced intense persecution in Myanmar. As many as 8 children, 25 women and 43 men were brought ashore on Friday afternoon in Aceh province of Sumatra in Indonesia.&nbsp

This was the third such attempt in a month by the Rohingyas to escape Myanmar by the sea.

According to the local authorities, many from the rescued group suffered dehydration and exhaustion and required medical attention. &nbsp

A man called Fariq Muhammad shared that he had paid a sum equivalent to around $150 to secure&nbspa place on the boat.&nbsp

Myanmar's Rakhine state grapples with a violent military crackdown that triggered an exodus of nearly 700,000 refugees into neighbouring Bangladesh.&nbsp

The group is reported to have faced intense persecution in Myanmar

A group of 76 Rohingyas, which was rescued from Indonesian waters on Friday, was at the sea for nearly nine days. According to reports, a Rohingya Muslim man, among the rescued, claimed that the group kept drifting in a wooden boat for nine days after leaving Myanmar. The group is reported to have faced intense persecution in Myanmar. As many as 8 children, 25 women and 43 men were brought ashore on Friday afternoon in Aceh province of Sumatra in Indonesia. This was the third such attempt in a month by the Rohingyas to escape Myanmar by the sea. According to the local authorities, many from the rescued group suffered dehydration and exhaustion and required medical attention. A man called Fariq Muhammad shared that he had paid a sum equivalent to around $150 to secure&nbspa place on the boat. Myanmar's Rakhine state grapples with a violent military crackdown that triggered an exodus of nearly 700,000 refugees into neighbouring Bangladesh.

Rohingya refugees rescued after drifting at sea for over a week

Embattled Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg faced a US congressional committee over data leak to Cambridge Analytica on Tuesday.

The Facebook chief while apologising for the leak said his company will work harder to block hate messages on the social media site, calling the Myanmar situation a "terrible tragedy".

"What's happening in Myanmar is a terrible tragedy, and we need to do more," Zuckerberg said during a 5-hour joint hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee.

Several thousand Rohingyas have fled Myanmar, according to the UN at least 650, 5000 ethnic Rohingyas have crossed over to Bangladesh in order to save themselves from the Myanmar Army which has allegedly been carrying out mass persecution against them.

"It has ... substantively contributed to the level of acrimony and dissension and conflict ... within the public. Hate speech is certainly, of course, a part of that," the Facebook chief said, adding," As far as the Myanmar situation is concerned, social media is Facebook, and Facebook is social media."&nbsp;

The UN including the US has termed the deteriorating state of the Rohingyas in Myanmar a case of "ethnic cleansing" with several other nations openly condemning the military regime which has been unable to stop the exodus to Bangladesh with the Rohingyas fearing mass persecution in the country.

"It's hard to do it without people who speak the local language, and we need to ramp up our effort there dramatically," &nbsp;Zuckerberg said.

He said a Facebook team would also make undisclosed product changes in Myanmar and other countries where ethnic violence was a problem.

United Nations officials investigating a possible genocide in Myanmar said last month that Facebook had been a source of anti-Rohingya propaganda

Embattled Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg faced a US congressional committee over data leak to Cambridge Analytica on Tuesday. The Facebook chief while apologising for the leak said his company will work harder to block hate messages on the social media site, calling the Myanmar situation a "terrible tragedy". "What's happening in Myanmar is a terrible tragedy, and we need to do more," Zuckerberg said during a 5-hour joint hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee. Several thousand Rohingyas have fled Myanmar, according to the UN at least 650, 5000 ethnic Rohingyas have crossed over to Bangladesh in order to save themselves from the Myanmar Army which has allegedly been carrying out mass persecution against them. "It has ... substantively contributed to the level of acrimony and dissension and conflict ... within the public. Hate speech is certainly, of course, a part of that," the Facebook chief said, adding," As far as the Myanmar situation is concerned, social media is Facebook, and Facebook is social media." The UN including the US has termed the deteriorating state of the Rohingyas in Myanmar a case of "ethnic cleansing" with several other nations openly condemning the military regime which has been unable to stop the exodus to Bangladesh with the Rohingyas fearing mass persecution in the country. "It's hard to do it without people who speak the local language, and we need to ramp up our effort there dramatically," Zuckerberg said. He said a Facebook team would also make undisclosed product changes in Myanmar and other countries where ethnic violence was a problem.

'Facebook needs to do more to stop hate speech in Myanmar,' says Zuckerberg to US lawmakers

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged the international community to contribute generously to enable appropriate health services to the 1.3 million "highly vulnerable" Rohingyas in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar as the refugees face "grave" risks to their lives and health in view of the coming rainy season.

This is one of the "biggest" humanitarian crisis in recent times, the WHO's South East Asia Regional Director, Poonam Khetrapal Singh, said at a meeting of partners in Dhaka.

"No single agency or the Bangladesh government alone can meet the massive health needs of such a large population group. The Rohingya population are settled in an area that is prone to cyclone, and a terrain that would be flooded as soon as rains begin," the official said.

"The risk of outbreak of life threatening water and vector borne diseases under such conditions is huge," Singh said.

Coordinating the work of over a 100 partners along with the Ministry of Health, Bangladesh, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has facilitated a contingency plan for the rainy season and coordinated a simulation around it.

The plan aims to ensure continuity of health services during rains and floods to minimise the risk of disease and deaths among the affected population, a WHO statement said.

All 207 health facilities in the area have been assessed for vulnerability during rains, following which nearly 25 per cent of them are being relocated.

Another cholera and measles vaccination campaign is being planned in April as a preventive measure for the vulnerable population, the statement said.

Earlier, 900,000 doses of cholera vaccine were administered to the refugees and their host communities, in addition to two vaccination campaigns for measles and three for diphtheria which concluded earlier this week with WHO's support.

Since the start of the Rohingya crisis, the WHO has provided over 120 tons of supplies and logistics support to its partners.

"However, much of the health sector's capacity to respond depends on availability of resources," said Singh who visited Rohingya camps earlier this week.

Besides risks posed by floods and rain, the vulnerable population would need continued services for reproductive, maternal and child health, for communicable and non-communicable diseases, as well as psychosocial support, the regional director said.

Earlier in Cox's Bazar, Singh visited the warehouse where the WHO has pre-positioned supplies.

She observed the diphtheria vaccination campaign, inaugurated a fixed immunization site for children, visited a primary health centre and a diphtheria treatment centre run by Samaritan's Purse.

The WHO has appealed for $16.5 million from partners to facilitate its support to the Rohingya response in 2018, the statement said.

This is part of the $113.1 million being sought by all health partners under the Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya crisis, it said.&nbsp;

This is one of the 'biggest' humanitarian crisis in recent times, the WHO's South East Asia Regional Director, Poonam Khetrapal Singh, said at a meeting of partners in Dhaka

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged the international community to contribute generously to enable appropriate health services to the 1.3 million "highly vulnerable" Rohingyas in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar as the refugees face "grave" risks to their lives and health in view of the coming rainy season. This is one of the "biggest" humanitarian crisis in recent times, the WHO's South East Asia Regional Director, Poonam Khetrapal Singh, said at a meeting of partners in Dhaka. "No single agency or the Bangladesh government alone can meet the massive health needs of such a large population group. The Rohingya population are settled in an area that is prone to cyclone, and a terrain that would be flooded as soon as rains begin," the official said. "The risk of outbreak of life threatening water and vector borne diseases under such conditions is huge," Singh said. Coordinating the work of over a 100 partners along with the Ministry of Health, Bangladesh, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has facilitated a contingency plan for the rainy season and coordinated a simulation around it. The plan aims to ensure continuity of health services during rains and floods to minimise the risk of disease and deaths among the affected population, a WHO statement said. All 207 health facilities in the area have been assessed for vulnerability during rains, following which nearly 25 per cent of them are being relocated. Another cholera and measles vaccination campaign is being planned in April as a preventive measure for the vulnerable population, the statement said. Earlier, 900,000 doses of cholera vaccine were administered to the refugees and their host communities, in addition to two vaccination campaigns for measles and three for diphtheria which concluded earlier this week with WHO's support. Since the start of the Rohingya crisis, the WHO has provided over 120 tons of supplies and logistics support to its partners. "However, much of the health sector's capacity to respond depends on availability of resources," said Singh who visited Rohingya camps earlier this week. Besides risks posed by floods and rain, the vulnerable population would need continued services for reproductive, maternal and child health, for communicable and non-communicable diseases, as well as psychosocial support, the regional director said. Earlier in Cox's Bazar, Singh visited the warehouse where the WHO has pre-positioned supplies. She observed the diphtheria vaccination campaign, inaugurated a fixed immunization site for children, visited a primary health centre and a diphtheria treatment centre run by Samaritan's Purse. The WHO has appealed for $16.5 million from partners to facilitate its support to the Rohingya response in 2018, the statement said. This is part of the $113.1 million being sought by all health partners under the Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya crisis, it said.

WHO appeals for contributions for health services to Rohingya refugees

Supreme Court today refused to pass an interim order on ensuring health and educational facilities for Rohingya refugees in India.

The Centre has told the top court that there has been no discrimination in granting health and educational facilities to Indians and outsiders.

The Rohingyas who fled Myanmar in August last year set up camps in Jammu, Hyderabad, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan.&nbsp;

The Supreme Court directed the Centre to put up a status report on the condition of Rohingyas in various states in the country.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves had said that conditions at the camps are &quot;unhygienic&quot; and &quot;filthiest to say the least&quot;.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves had said that conditions at the camps are "unhygienic" and "filthiest to say the least".

Supreme Court today refused to pass an interim order on ensuring health and educational facilities for Rohingya refugees in India. The Centre has told the top court that there has been no discrimination in granting health and educational facilities to Indians and outsiders. The Rohingyas who fled Myanmar in August last year set up camps in Jammu, Hyderabad, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan. The Supreme Court directed the Centre to put up a status report on the condition of Rohingyas in various states in the country. Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves had said that conditions at the camps are "unhygienic" and "filthiest to say the least".

File status report on condition of Rohingyas: Supreme Court to Centre

The Centre has told the Supreme Court that Rohingya refugees cannot be equated with Sri Lankan Tamil refugees.

The Union Home Ministry said this in an affidavit filed in the Writ Petition [Civil] No.793 of 2017 in the matter of Mohammad Samilullah versus Union of India on Thursday.

A petitioner has demanded the Supreme Court to direct the Centre to provide same facilities to the Rohingya refugees that are being provided to the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees.

The Centre told the apex court that that comparison with Sri Lankan Tamil refugees based upon which prayer is sought to be made is ill-founded and misconceived.

&quot;Grant of certain relief facilities to the Sri Lankan Tamil Refugees has its genesis in the Indo-Ceylon Agreement of 1964. The declared objective of the agreement was that all persons of Indian origin in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) who have not been recognized either as citizens of Ceylon or as a citizen of India should become citizens either of Ceylon or of India,&quot; the Centre informed the apex court.

The Centre also said that another agreement was signed between India and Sri Lanka in January 1974 and the assistance was being provided to the Sri Lankan refuges under these agreements.

&quot;Under the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreements of 1964 and 1974, the Government of India had agreed to repatriate and grant Indian citizenship to six lakh persons of Indian origin together with their natural increase by 1981-82. Rehabilitation assistance was given to such persons of Indian origin (Sri Lankan Tamil refugees) as per a bilateral agreement between the two nations,&quot; the affidavit said.

The Centre also informed the Supreme Court that according to another accord between India and Sri Lanka in January 1986, Sri Lanka had agreed to grant Sri Lankan citizenship to 94,000 persons out of 6 lakhs persons originally to be granted Indian citizenship as per 1964 and 1974 agreements.

Therefore, the Centre said there is no comparable parity between the two cases as the case of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees stands on different footing.&nbsp;

The Centre told the apex court that that comparison with Sri Lankan Tamil refugees is ill-founded and misconceived

The Centre has told the Supreme Court that Rohingya refugees cannot be equated with Sri Lankan Tamil refugees. The Union Home Ministry said this in an affidavit filed in the Writ Petition [Civil] No.793 of 2017 in the matter of Mohammad Samilullah versus Union of India on Thursday. A petitioner has demanded the Supreme Court to direct the Centre to provide same facilities to the Rohingya refugees that are being provided to the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees. The Centre told the apex court that that comparison with Sri Lankan Tamil refugees based upon which prayer is sought to be made is ill-founded and misconceived. "Grant of certain relief facilities to the Sri Lankan Tamil Refugees has its genesis in the Indo-Ceylon Agreement of 1964. The declared objective of the agreement was that all persons of Indian origin in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) who have not been recognized either as citizens of Ceylon or as a citizen of India should become citizens either of Ceylon or of India," the Centre informed the apex court. The Centre also said that another agreement was signed between India and Sri Lanka in January 1974 and the assistance was being provided to the Sri Lankan refuges under these agreements. "Under the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreements of 1964 and 1974, the Government of India had agreed to repatriate and grant Indian citizenship to six lakh persons of Indian origin together with their natural increase by 1981-82. Rehabilitation assistance was given to such persons of Indian origin (Sri Lankan Tamil refugees) as per a bilateral agreement between the two nations," the affidavit said. The Centre also informed the Supreme Court that according to another accord between India and Sri Lanka in January 1986, Sri Lanka had agreed to grant Sri Lankan citizenship to 94,000 persons out of 6 lakhs persons originally to be granted Indian citizenship as per 1964 and 1974 agreements. Therefore, the Centre said there is no comparable parity between the two cases as the case of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees stands on different footing.

Rohingyas can't be equated with Sri Lankan refugees: Centre

UN human rights investigators <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/un-to-seek-1billion-for-rohingya-refugee-effort-in-bangladesh-35410">have held Facebook responsible</a> for the spread of hate speech in the large-scale violence against Rohingyas in Myanmar.

&quot;It has ... substantively contributed to the level of acrimony and dissension and conflict, if you will, within the public. Hate speech is certainly, of course, a part of that,&quot; Marzuki Darusman, chairman of the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar said.

&quot;As far as the Myanmar situation is concerned, social media is Facebook, and Facebook is social media,&quot; he added.

Another UN investigator Yanghee Lee said that Facebook played a key role in public discourse in Myanmar and it was widely used by the government to convey information.

&quot;It was used to convey public messages but we know that the ultra-nationalist Buddhists have their own Facebooks and are really inciting a lot of violence and a lot of hatred against the Rohingya or other ethnic minorities,&quot; she said.

&quot;I&rsquo;m afraid that Facebook has now turned into a beast, and not what it originally intended,&quot; she observed.

&nbsp;

UN investigator Yanghee Lee said that Facebook played a key role in public discourse in Myanmar

UN human rights investigators have held Facebook responsible for the spread of hate speech in the large-scale violence against Rohingyas in Myanmar. "It has ... substantively contributed to the level of acrimony and dissension and conflict, if you will, within the public. Hate speech is certainly, of course, a part of that," Marzuki Darusman, chairman of the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar said. "As far as the Myanmar situation is concerned, social media is Facebook, and Facebook is social media," he added. Another UN investigator Yanghee Lee said that Facebook played a key role in public discourse in Myanmar and it was widely used by the government to convey information. "It was used to convey public messages but we know that the ultra-nationalist Buddhists have their own Facebooks and are really inciting a lot of violence and a lot of hatred against the Rohingya or other ethnic minorities," she said. "I’m afraid that Facebook has now turned into a beast, and not what it originally intended," she observed.

Facebook turned into a beast, ultra-nationalist Buddhists using it to spread hatred against Rohingyas: UN

There are three types of Islam, the first is the false Islam laid by the Islamic militants. The second is the Arabism which is followed particularly in the Middle East. And the third is the one followed in the nations like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, etc. where Muslims keep a balance between regional culture and teachings of Prophet.&nbsp;

Barring India, this third type of secular Islam seems to be replaced by the Arabism. Even in Bangladesh, a state formed on regionalism, political observers opinioned about the sudden rise of fanaticism across the nation. The state seems to have forgotten the ethos laid by their founding fathers. There are three pieces of evidence which justify that there is a rise in religious extremism across Bangladesh.

The first evidence is the existence of militant organizations which want to rule the lingual nation under Shira law. The political analysts fear the existence of organisations like ISIS in Bangladesh. ISIS claimed the Dhaka Airport bomb attack which took toll of about 20 people. But the state government blamed Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, a local terror outfit, for the inhuman massacre. The Awami League also accused the opposition - &nbsp;Bangladesh Nationalist Party - of lending support to Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen for destabilizing peace. Apart from this brutal and inhuman attack, the organization is said to have detonated 500 bombs at 300 different locations causing various casualties across the nation. The Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen is also said to kill seculars, atheists, ideologues, journalists and religious minorities. This inhuman stupidity is happening right under the nose of secular Prime Minister Hasina.

The second instance which justifies that secularism is under axe in Bangladesh is the sudden rise in Arab-Islamic presence in Bangladesh. The rise in Arabic element started when Arab-based funders used to give donations to Madarsas in rural parts. Nowadays there is some fantasy for learning the Arabic language among some youths. The government allowed since it helped to remove stress on the fiscal expenditure. The non&ndash;Muslim allies of the deltaic nation also missed the chance to stop this unwanted shift from modernity. As I said earlier, Bengali first Muslim next state seems to go Muslim first Bengali next state.

Another drama which proves that there is a rise in religious extremism in the nation is the Rohingya issue. This sensitive issue was actually a high potential drama in our neighbouring Bangladesh. The Islamic outfits including Jamaat-e-Islami threatened PM Hasina that they would call hartals if Rohingya refugees are not rehabilitated in Bangladesh. These jobless leaders consider Rohingya as their kind and they want Bangladeshi government to protect them at any cost. It is said that Sheikh Hasina doesn&rsquo;t really want to lend those refugees help since Bangladesh is itself a poverty-hit nation. Fearing those stupid leaders she is wasting the resources meant for infrastructure and poverty alleviation to help those people who are the responsibility of Myanmar. The people are not considering the lingual context of Rohingyas but they want to help them for only one fact that they are Muslims.

After the arrest of strong opposition leader and former PM Khaleda Jia, it is indicative that Hasina will play one person role in Bangladesh politics even after strong anti-incumbency since 2009.It is indicative that ruling party is playing vindictive in the arrest of Jia and her associates, thus decimating the political opposition.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Since there is no presence of strong opposition, Hasina will win this election due at the end of this year, but during next elections, if BNP remains inert in jail, the possibility of religious outfit entering their politics strongly can&rsquo;t be overruled. Another political trend dictates that there is fall in the activism of socialist parties like Jatiyo Samajtantrik party and the activism of Right-wing parties like Jamaat-e-Islami party and the Islami Oikyo Jote is in a good position since Rohingya issue. Thus, not only on the ground but religion is featuring its extremity in politics as well. This is only because of the dictatorial mood of Hasina.

Hasina might be considering politics cakewalk today, but tomorrow she might fight someone more despicable and the despicable faction may win. Sheikh Hasina may fight corruption and poverty by her authoritarian principles but she must learn that she can never control fanaticism by one party principle.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

One person play of Sheikh Hasina won’t be a solution for religious extremism in Bangladesh. She must learn that she can never control fanaticism by her authoritarian principles.

There are three types of Islam, the first is the false Islam laid by the Islamic militants. The second is the Arabism which is followed particularly in the Middle East. And the third is the one followed in the nations like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, etc. where Muslims keep a balance between regional culture and teachings of Prophet. Barring India, this third type of secular Islam seems to be replaced by the Arabism. Even in Bangladesh, a state formed on regionalism, political observers opinioned about the sudden rise of fanaticism across the nation. The state seems to have forgotten the ethos laid by their founding fathers. There are three pieces of evidence which justify that there is a rise in religious extremism across Bangladesh. The first evidence is the existence of militant organizations which want to rule the lingual nation under Shira law. The political analysts fear the existence of organisations like ISIS in Bangladesh. ISIS claimed the Dhaka Airport bomb attack which took toll of about 20 people. But the state government blamed Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, a local terror outfit, for the inhuman massacre. The Awami League also accused the opposition - Bangladesh Nationalist Party - of lending support to Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen for destabilizing peace. Apart from this brutal and inhuman attack, the organization is said to have detonated 500 bombs at 300 different locations causing various casualties across the nation. The Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen is also said to kill seculars, atheists, ideologues, journalists and religious minorities. This inhuman stupidity is happening right under the nose of secular Prime Minister Hasina. The second instance which justifies that secularism is under axe in Bangladesh is the sudden rise in Arab-Islamic presence in Bangladesh. The rise in Arabic element started when Arab-based funders used to give donations to Madarsas in rural parts. Nowadays there is some fantasy for learning the Arabic language among some youths. The government allowed since it helped to remove stress on the fiscal expenditure. The non–Muslim allies of the deltaic nation also missed the chance to stop this unwanted shift from modernity. As I said earlier, Bengali first Muslim next state seems to go Muslim first Bengali next state. Another drama which proves that there is a rise in religious extremism in the nation is the Rohingya issue. This sensitive issue was actually a high potential drama in our neighbouring Bangladesh. The Islamic outfits including Jamaat-e-Islami threatened PM Hasina that they would call hartals if Rohingya refugees are not rehabilitated in Bangladesh. These jobless leaders consider Rohingya as their kind and they want Bangladeshi government to protect them at any cost. It is said that Sheikh Hasina doesn’t really want to lend those refugees help since Bangladesh is itself a poverty-hit nation. Fearing those stupid leaders she is wasting the resources meant for infrastructure and poverty alleviation to help those people who are the responsibility of Myanmar. The people are not considering the lingual context of Rohingyas but they want to help them for only one fact that they are Muslims. After the arrest of strong opposition leader and former PM Khaleda Jia, it is indicative that Hasina will play one person role in Bangladesh politics even after strong anti-incumbency since 2009.It is indicative that ruling party is playing vindictive in the arrest of Jia and her associates, thus decimating the political opposition. Since there is no presence of strong opposition, Hasina will win this election due at the end of this year, but during next elections, if BNP remains inert in jail, the possibility of religious outfit entering their politics strongly can’t be overruled. Another political trend dictates that there is fall in the activism of socialist parties like Jatiyo Samajtantrik party and the activism of Right-wing parties like Jamaat-e-Islami party and the Islami Oikyo Jote is in a good position since Rohingya issue. Thus, not only on the ground but religion is featuring its extremity in politics as well. This is only because of the dictatorial mood of Hasina. Hasina might be considering politics cakewalk today, but tomorrow she might fight someone more despicable and the despicable faction may win. Sheikh Hasina may fight corruption and poverty by her authoritarian principles but she must learn that she can never control fanaticism by one party principle. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Sheikh Hasina's dictatorial attitude leading to religious extremism in Bangladesh

UN High Commissioner for <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-urges-un-to-hold-myanmar-military-accountable-for-ethnic-cleansing-32784">Refugees Filippo Grandi informed the</a> Security Council on Tuesday that Myanmar has failed to put in place conditions for the safe return of Rohingyas.

&quot;Let me be clear: conditions are not yet conducive to the voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees,&quot; the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said.

Grandi statement comes as US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said the Myanmar government has denied &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot; in Rakhine State.

&quot;The causes of their flight have not been addressed, and we have yet to see substantive progress on addressing the exclusion and denial of rights that has deepened over the last decades, rooted in their lack of citizenship,&quot; Grandi told the Security Council.

The UN refugee chief said that while Rohingyas&#39; exodus had significantly decreased, however, the &quot;flow&quot;&nbsp;continued as some 1,500 refugees arrived in Bangladesh this month.

The UN predicts over 8,50,000 Rohingyas have crossed over to Bangladesh since August 25th last year ever since the Myanmar Army allegedly started persecuting them.

Bangladesh had reached a deal with Myanmar in December last year to repatriate nearly 700,000 Rohingyas but reports said several refugees did not wish to return without guarantees of safety.

Meanwhile, French UN ambassador Francois Delattre told the United Nations Security Council that the massacre of Rohingyas &quot;could constitute crimes against humanity.&quot;

French UN ambassador Francois Delattre told the United Nations Security Council that the massacre of Rohingyas "could constitute crimes against humanity."

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi informed the Security Council on Tuesday that Myanmar has failed to put in place conditions for the safe return of Rohingyas. "Let me be clear: conditions are not yet conducive to the voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees," the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said. Grandi statement comes as US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said the Myanmar government has denied "ethnic cleansing" in Rakhine State. "The causes of their flight have not been addressed, and we have yet to see substantive progress on addressing the exclusion and denial of rights that has deepened over the last decades, rooted in their lack of citizenship," Grandi told the Security Council. The UN refugee chief said that while Rohingyas' exodus had significantly decreased, however, the "flow" continued as some 1,500 refugees arrived in Bangladesh this month. The UN predicts over 8,50,000 Rohingyas have crossed over to Bangladesh since August 25th last year ever since the Myanmar Army allegedly started persecuting them. Bangladesh had reached a deal with Myanmar in December last year to repatriate nearly 700,000 Rohingyas but reports said several refugees did not wish to return without guarantees of safety. Meanwhile, French UN ambassador Francois Delattre told the United Nations Security Council that the massacre of Rohingyas "could constitute crimes against humanity."

Conditions not conducive for voluntary repatriation of Rohingyas: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

UN report said today that over <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/indonesia-president-called-for-quick-peaceful-solution-to-rohingya-crises-31066">100,000 Rohingyas huddled in</a> various relief camps in Bangladesh are in grave danger due to landslide threat predicted in monsoons this year.

&quot;Landslide and flood <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-says-rohingya-ethnic-cleansing-shames-suu-kyi-govt-20818">risk hazard mapping reveals that</a> at least 100,000 people are in grave danger from these risks and require relocation to new areas or within the neighborhoods that they live in,&quot; the UN report said.

There are over 900,000 Rohingya refugees who have fled from Bangladesh after allegedly being persecuted by the army since August 25th last year. The UN had called the atrocities &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot; and had ordered the Myanmar government to put a stop to it.

The &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot; issue was further pushed by US secretary of state Rex Tillerson after he said it is clear that the situation in northern Rakhine state &quot;constitutes ethnic cleansing against the Rohingyas.&quot;

The Myanmar army, however, denies ethnic cleansing has taken place in the country.

&quot;The lack of space remains the main challenge for the sector as sites are highly congested leading to extremely hard living conditions with no space for service provisions and facilities,&quot; the report added.

A recent engineering assessment said all roads in the camp would be inaccessible for trucks, and the World Food Programme is considering using porters to distribute food, minutes of a Jan. 24 meeting of aid agencies involved in logistics said, Reuters reported.

&quot;Humanitarian partners are now building necessary infrastructure in challenging conditions, with extremely limited space,&quot; the U.N. report said.

&quot;A high percentage of the land is unsuitable for human settlement as risks of flooding and landslides are high and are further aggravated by the congestion and extensive terracing of the hills,&quot; the UN report observed.

&quot;The anticipated flooding and landslides in the upcoming monsoon season will make a bad situation much worse.&quot;

A recent engineering assessment said all roads in the camp would be inaccessible for trucks

UN report said today that over 100,000 Rohingyas huddled in various relief camps in Bangladesh are in grave danger due to landslide threat predicted in monsoons this year. "Landslide and flood risk hazard mapping reveals that at least 100,000 people are in grave danger from these risks and require relocation to new areas or within the neighborhoods that they live in," the UN report said. There are over 900,000 Rohingya refugees who have fled from Bangladesh after allegedly being persecuted by the army since August 25th last year. The UN had called the atrocities "ethnic cleansing" and had ordered the Myanmar government to put a stop to it. The "ethnic cleansing" issue was further pushed by US secretary of state Rex Tillerson after he said it is clear that the situation in northern Rakhine state "constitutes ethnic cleansing against the Rohingyas." The Myanmar army, however, denies ethnic cleansing has taken place in the country. "The lack of space remains the main challenge for the sector as sites are highly congested leading to extremely hard living conditions with no space for service provisions and facilities," the report added. A recent engineering assessment said all roads in the camp would be inaccessible for trucks, and the World Food Programme is considering using porters to distribute food, minutes of a Jan. 24 meeting of aid agencies involved in logistics said, Reuters reported. "Humanitarian partners are now building necessary infrastructure in challenging conditions, with extremely limited space," the U.N. report said. "A high percentage of the land is unsuitable for human settlement as risks of flooding and landslides are high and are further aggravated by the congestion and extensive terracing of the hills," the UN report observed. "The anticipated flooding and landslides in the upcoming monsoon season will make a bad situation much worse."

At least 100,000 Rohingyas at risk due to landslide threat: UN

Bangladesh Health Minister Mohammed Nasim has said that Rohingya refugees will return to their homeland as soon as the international community and the UN pressurise Myanmar into repatriating them.

&quot;Bangladesh government has an extremely tolerant approach towards Rohingyas and we are also working to implement the Rohingya repatriation deal,&quot; Dhaka Times quoted Health Minister Mohammed Nasim as saying at a grants distribution program in Cox&#39;s Bazar on Monday.

Lauding the efforts of the locals of Cox&#39;s Bazar for their unimaginable support towards Rohingyas, Nasim claimed that not a single Rohingya died without&nbsp;treatment on Bangladesh soil.

Myanmar and Bangladesh had earlier this month formed a Joint Working Group (JWG) to handle the repatriation of Rohingya refugees.

The crucial JWG with 15 members each from Bangladesh and Myanmar will oversee the repatriation of over 600,000 Rohingya refugees who have taken shelter in Bangladesh to escape ethnic violence in Myanmar.

Foreign Secretary Mohammed Shahidul Huq will head the JWG from the Bangladesh side while the Myanmar side will be headed by Permanent Secretary at Myanmar Foreign Ministry Myint Thu.

More than 655,000 Rohingyas have crossed into Bangladesh since August 25, escaping a military crackdown in Rakhine state, which many countries and human rights bodies have described as ethnic cleansing.

The military action was triggered after their posts became targets of terrorist attacks.

There is global outrage over the distressing plight of dispossessed Rohingya in Bangladeshi camps currently.

A majority of them left the Rakhine state at the end of August this year, recounting incidents of murder, rape and arson at the hands of the Myanmar Army.

On October 12, a United Nations&#39; report based on interviews conducted in Bangladesh found that brutal attacks against Rohingyas in the northern Rakhine state have been well-organised, coordinated and systematic, with the intent of not only driving the population out of Myanmar but preventing them from returning to their homes.

The Rakhine state is home to a majority of Muslims in Myanmar, who have been denied citizenship and long faced persecution in the Buddhist-majority country, especially from the extremists.

Bangladesh Health Minister Mohammed Nasim said his government was 'working to implement the Rohingya repatriation deal'

Bangladesh Health Minister Mohammed Nasim has said that Rohingya refugees will return to their homeland as soon as the international community and the UN pressurise Myanmar into repatriating them. "Bangladesh government has an extremely tolerant approach towards Rohingyas and we are also working to implement the Rohingya repatriation deal," Dhaka Times quoted Health Minister Mohammed Nasim as saying at a grants distribution program in Cox's Bazar on Monday. Lauding the efforts of the locals of Cox's Bazar for their unimaginable support towards Rohingyas, Nasim claimed that not a single Rohingya died without treatment on Bangladesh soil. Myanmar and Bangladesh had earlier this month formed a Joint Working Group (JWG) to handle the repatriation of Rohingya refugees. The crucial JWG with 15 members each from Bangladesh and Myanmar will oversee the repatriation of over 600,000 Rohingya refugees who have taken shelter in Bangladesh to escape ethnic violence in Myanmar. Foreign Secretary Mohammed Shahidul Huq will head the JWG from the Bangladesh side while the Myanmar side will be headed by Permanent Secretary at Myanmar Foreign Ministry Myint Thu. More than 655,000 Rohingyas have crossed into Bangladesh since August 25, escaping a military crackdown in Rakhine state, which many countries and human rights bodies have described as ethnic cleansing. The military action was triggered after their posts became targets of terrorist attacks. There is global outrage over the distressing plight of dispossessed Rohingya in Bangladeshi camps currently. A majority of them left the Rakhine state at the end of August this year, recounting incidents of murder, rape and arson at the hands of the Myanmar Army. On October 12, a United Nations' report based on interviews conducted in Bangladesh found that brutal attacks against Rohingyas in the northern Rakhine state have been well-organised, coordinated and systematic, with the intent of not only driving the population out of Myanmar but preventing them from returning to their homes. The Rakhine state is home to a majority of Muslims in Myanmar, who have been denied citizenship and long faced persecution in the Buddhist-majority country, especially from the extremists.

Rohingyas to return to Myanmar soon: Bangladesh minister

The United States <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/6700-rohingya-killed-in-myanmar-in-first-month-including-730-children-international-aid-group-26719">said it would like to see &quot;safe&quot; and &quot;dignified&quot;</a> return of Rohingyas back to Myanmar, insisting &quot;Rohingyas need to be treated well as they decide to return home&quot;.

However, even after<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/rohingya-row-elements-of-genocide-in-myanmar-says-un-chief-25936"> nearly four months, Rohingyas continue </a>to flee Myanmar in huge numbers. The UN has estimated over 6,20,000 Rohingyas have already crossed over to Bangladesh with thousands more expected to reach trekking over mountains and through forests and rice fields inundated by monsoon rain.

&quot;In terms of the repatriation plan, we&#39;d like to see the plan. We&#39;ve heard about it in concept, but one of the things that would be important to be in that plan is the voluntary, safe and dignified return,&quot; State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said.

Even as the efforts are underway to repatriate the Rohingyas, Myanmar authorities on Tuesday found ten bodies buried in a mass grave site outside Rakhine State, a newspaper said.

The military said it was investigating the site, reports said.

The US meanwhile pressed for &quot;voluntary repatriation&quot; of Rohingyas, saying: &quot;People have to feel like it&#39;s safe to go home. If they don&#39;t feel like it&#39;s safe to go home, it&#39;s probably not going to be safe to go home.&quot;

&quot;They have to have a dignified return. That means treating the people well as they decide to return home,&quot; the State Department spokesperson added.

&quot;We hope that the refugees will eventually be able to go home, to go home to Burma. More than 600,000 of them have been forced across the border since August alone, and now it&#39;s December,&quot; she said.

Even as the efforts are underway to repatriate the Rohingyas, Myanmar authorities on Tuesday found ten bodies buried in a mass grave site

The United States said it would like to see "safe" and "dignified" return of Rohingyas back to Myanmar, insisting "Rohingyas need to be treated well as they decide to return home". However, even after nearly four months, Rohingyas continue to flee Myanmar in huge numbers. The UN has estimated over 6,20,000 Rohingyas have already crossed over to Bangladesh with thousands more expected to reach trekking over mountains and through forests and rice fields inundated by monsoon rain. "In terms of the repatriation plan, we'd like to see the plan. We've heard about it in concept, but one of the things that would be important to be in that plan is the voluntary, safe and dignified return," State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said. Even as the efforts are underway to repatriate the Rohingyas, Myanmar authorities on Tuesday found ten bodies buried in a mass grave site outside Rakhine State, a newspaper said. The military said it was investigating the site, reports said. The US meanwhile pressed for "voluntary repatriation" of Rohingyas, saying: "People have to feel like it's safe to go home. If they don't feel like it's safe to go home, it's probably not going to be safe to go home." "They have to have a dignified return. That means treating the people well as they decide to return home," the State Department spokesperson added. "We hope that the refugees will eventually be able to go home, to go home to Burma. More than 600,000 of them have been forced across the border since August alone, and now it's December," she said.

Rohingya repatriation to Myanmar should be voluntary and dignified: US

Doctors Without Borders, a private charitable organization consisting of doctors and medical workers, said at least 6,700 Rohingyas have been killed in Myanmar in a month.

The aid group&nbsp;which provides assistance to people in distress across the world said: &quot;At least 6,700 Rohingya, in the most conservative estimations, are estimated to have been killed, including at least 730 children below the age of five years.&quot;

The aid group said it had released the figures based on a survey it had conducted.

The UNHCR in its report had said earlier at least 625,000 Rohingyas had arrived in Bangladesh since August 25th as the Myanmar Army allegedly started atrocities against the minority Rohingyas.

Speaking at the United Nations, Pramila Patten, special envoy of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had said on Wednesday that United Nations Security Council members should visit Myanmar to investigate reports of large-scale violence by the Army against Rohingyas.

&quot;Some witnesses reported women and girls being tied to either a rock or a tree before multiple soldiers raped them to death,&quot; Patten told the Security Council.

Patten said that a Security Council resolution should demand an immediate end to violations against civilians in Rakhine state and outlining measures to hold the perpetrators accountable &quot;would send an important signal.&quot; 
&nbsp; 
Meanwhile, councillors in Dublin councillors on Wednesday voted to revoke an award given to Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi to protest against her handling of violence against Rohingyas, Irish media reported.

The vast majority of councillors backed the move to revoke the &nbsp;&quot;Freedom of the City of Dublin&quot; award, with 59 votes in favour, two against and one abstention, broadcaster RTE said.

Doctors Without Borders, a private charitable organization consisting of doctors and medical workers, said at least 6,700 Rohingyas have been killed in Myanmar in a month. The aid group which provides assistance to people in distress across the world said: "At least 6,700 Rohingya, in the most conservative estimations, are estimated to have been killed, including at least 730 children below the age of five years." The aid group said it had released the figures based on a survey it had conducted. The UNHCR in its report had said earlier at least 625,000 Rohingyas had arrived in Bangladesh since August 25th as the Myanmar Army allegedly started atrocities against the minority Rohingyas. Speaking at the United Nations, Pramila Patten, special envoy of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had said on Wednesday that United Nations Security Council members should visit Myanmar to investigate reports of large-scale violence by the Army against Rohingyas. "Some witnesses reported women and girls being tied to either a rock or a tree before multiple soldiers raped them to death," Patten told the Security Council. Patten said that a Security Council resolution should demand an immediate end to violations against civilians in Rakhine state and outlining measures to hold the perpetrators accountable "would send an important signal." Meanwhile, councillors in Dublin councillors on Wednesday voted to revoke an award given to Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi to protest against her handling of violence against Rohingyas, Irish media reported. The vast majority of councillors backed the move to revoke the "Freedom of the City of Dublin" award, with 59 votes in favour, two against and one abstention, broadcaster RTE said.

6,700 Rohingya killed in Myanmar in first month, including 730 children: International aid group

Pope Francis has said he wept hearing the plight first-hand of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, adding that this meeting was a condition set for his trip to Myanmar and Bangladesh.

The Rohingya meeting was a highly symbolic gesture of solidarity with the Muslim minority fleeing violence in Myanmar, and the pontiff told journalists on his plane flying back to Rome that the refugees cried as well.

&quot;I knew that I was going to meet the Rohingyas but I did not know where and how, for me it was one of the conditions of the trip,&quot; he said. 
 
The usually forthright pontiff walked a diplomatic tightrope during his four days in Myanmar -- the first papal visit to the country -- avoiding any direct reference to the Rohingya in public while appealing to Buddhist leaders to overcome &quot;prejudice and hatred&quot;.

In Bangladesh he addressed the issue head-on, meeting a group of Rohingya refugees from the squalid camps in southern Bangladesh in an emotional encounter in Dhaka.

&quot;What Bangladesh has done for them is enormous, it&#39;s an example of welcome,&quot; he said.

&quot;I wept, I tried to do it in a way that it couldn&#39;t be seen,&quot; he said. &quot;They wept too.&quot;

&quot;I told myself &#39;I cannot leave without saying a word to them&#39;&quot;.

The pope told the Rohingya: &quot;In the name of all those who have persecuted you, who have harmed you, in the face of the world&#39;s indifference, I ask for your forgiveness.&quot;

The pope referred to the refugees as Rohingya, using the term for the first time on the tour in Bangladesh after the archbishop of Yangon advised him that doing so in Myanmar could inflame tensions and endanger Christians.

The word is politically sensitive in mainly Buddhist Myanmar because many there do not consider the Rohingya a distinct ethnic group, regarding them instead as interlopers from Bangladesh.

&quot;If I had used the word during an official speech I would have slammed the door,&quot; he said, adding: &quot;They already knew what I thought.&quot; 
 
&quot;For me the most important thing is that the message gets through,&quot; he added.

The pope said he was &quot;very satisfied&quot; with his meetings in Myanmar and hinted that he expressed his opinion far more freely in private conversations with the country&#39;s leaders than in his public appearances.

More than 620,000 Rohingya have crossed into Bangladesh since a militant attack on police posts in late August sparked a deadly crackdown by the Myanmar military.

They have given consistent accounts of mass rape, killings and villages deliberately burned to the ground by soldiers and Buddhist militia. 
 
The two countries last month signed an agreement to begin repatriating refugees to Myanmar, but rights groups say they are concerned about plans to house them in camps away from their former homes -- many of which have been destroyed.

During his tour, the pope led well-attended open-air masses in Bangladesh and Myanmar, which both have small Christian populations.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Pope Francis said this meeting was a condition set for his trip to Myanmar and Bangladesh

Pope Francis has said he wept hearing the plight first-hand of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, adding that this meeting was a condition set for his trip to Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Rohingya meeting was a highly symbolic gesture of solidarity with the Muslim minority fleeing violence in Myanmar, and the pontiff told journalists on his plane flying back to Rome that the refugees cried as well. "I knew that I was going to meet the Rohingyas but I did not know where and how, for me it was one of the conditions of the trip," he said. The usually forthright pontiff walked a diplomatic tightrope during his four days in Myanmar -- the first papal visit to the country -- avoiding any direct reference to the Rohingya in public while appealing to Buddhist leaders to overcome "prejudice and hatred". In Bangladesh he addressed the issue head-on, meeting a group of Rohingya refugees from the squalid camps in southern Bangladesh in an emotional encounter in Dhaka. "What Bangladesh has done for them is enormous, it's an example of welcome," he said. "I wept, I tried to do it in a way that it couldn't be seen," he said. "They wept too." "I told myself 'I cannot leave without saying a word to them'". The pope told the Rohingya: "In the name of all those who have persecuted you, who have harmed you, in the face of the world's indifference, I ask for your forgiveness." The pope referred to the refugees as Rohingya, using the term for the first time on the tour in Bangladesh after the archbishop of Yangon advised him that doing so in Myanmar could inflame tensions and endanger Christians. The word is politically sensitive in mainly Buddhist Myanmar because many there do not consider the Rohingya a distinct ethnic group, regarding them instead as interlopers from Bangladesh. "If I had used the word during an official speech I would have slammed the door," he said, adding: "They already knew what I thought." "For me the most important thing is that the message gets through," he added. The pope said he was "very satisfied" with his meetings in Myanmar and hinted that he expressed his opinion far more freely in private conversations with the country's leaders than in his public appearances. More than 620,000 Rohingya have crossed into Bangladesh since a militant attack on police posts in late August sparked a deadly crackdown by the Myanmar military. They have given consistent accounts of mass rape, killings and villages deliberately burned to the ground by soldiers and Buddhist militia. The two countries last month signed an agreement to begin repatriating refugees to Myanmar, but rights groups say they are concerned about plans to house them in camps away from their former homes -- many of which have been destroyed. During his tour, the pope led well-attended open-air masses in Bangladesh and Myanmar, which both have small Christian populations.

Pope says he 'wept' while meeting Rohingya refugees

After spending three days in Myanmar, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pope-francis-addresses-myanmars-buddhist-monks-avoids-using-the-term-rohingya-again-25447">Pope Francis arrived in Bangladesh today</a> to find a peaceful solution to the Rohingya refugee crisis which has created deep fissures between the Asian neighbours.

The Pope who has avoided <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/bangladesh-priest-disappearance-casts-pall-over-pope-visit-25448">using the term &quot;Rohingya&quot; so far </a>during his visit to Asia, spoke of &quot;refugees from Rakhine state&quot; as he arrived in Bangladesh.

In his speech before Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid, the Pope praised Bangladesh&#39;s &quot;spirit of generosity and solidarity&quot; in helping &quot;a massive influx of refugees from Rakhine state&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;It is imperative that the international community take decisive measures to address this grave crisis,&quot; he added.

The appealed to everyone involved in the crisis to help offer&nbsp;&quot;immediate material assistance to Bangladesh in its effort to respond effectively to urgent human needs.&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;None of us can fail to be aware of the gravity of the situation, the immense toll of human suffering involved, and the precarious living conditions of so many of our brothers and sisters, a majority of whom are women and children, crowded in the refugee camps,&quot; he said.

Francis who is on a three-day visit to Bangladesh is the first pope to visit the country in 31 years.&nbsp;

The Pope flew down from Myanmar after meeting the military chief and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi calling for calm even as the Rohingya refugees continued to pour into Bangladesh due to alleged atrocities against them in Rakhine state which has attracted worldwide condemnation.

&nbsp;

The Pope who has avoided using the term "Rohingya" so far during his visit to Asia, spoke of "refugees from Rakhine state" as he arrived in Bangladesh

After spending three days in Myanmar, Pope Francis arrived in Bangladesh today to find a peaceful solution to the Rohingya refugee crisis which has created deep fissures between the Asian neighbours. The Pope who has avoided using the term "Rohingya" so far during his visit to Asia, spoke of "refugees from Rakhine state" as he arrived in Bangladesh. In his speech before Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid, the Pope praised Bangladesh's "spirit of generosity and solidarity" in helping "a massive influx of refugees from Rakhine state". "It is imperative that the international community take decisive measures to address this grave crisis," he added. The appealed to everyone involved in the crisis to help offer "immediate material assistance to Bangladesh in its effort to respond effectively to urgent human needs." "None of us can fail to be aware of the gravity of the situation, the immense toll of human suffering involved, and the precarious living conditions of so many of our brothers and sisters, a majority of whom are women and children, crowded in the refugee camps," he said. Francis who is on a three-day visit to Bangladesh is the first pope to visit the country in 31 years. The Pope flew down from Myanmar after meeting the military chief and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi calling for calm even as the Rohingya refugees continued to pour into Bangladesh due to alleged atrocities against them in Rakhine state which has attracted worldwide condemnation.

Pope arrives in Bangladesh, appeals for decisive action for 'refugees from Rakhine state'

Ahead of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/pope-to-meet-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh-vatican-24873">Pope Francis visit to Myanmar</a> next week, the US sent out a tough message to the Myanmar government calling for &quot;accountability&quot; and a stop to &quot;horrendous atrocities&quot; against Rohingyas.

US secretary of<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/china-willing-to-help-solve-rohingya-crisis-foreign-minister-wang-yi-24610"> state Rex Tillerson in a strongly worded</a> statement said: &quot;After a careful and thorough analysis of available facts, it is clear that the situation in northern Rakhine state constitutes ethnic cleansing against the Rohingyas.&quot;

Tillerson who had visited Myanmar a fortnight ago had avoided using the term &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot; even as&nbsp;both the US and UN had slammed the Myanmar government over reported &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot;&nbsp;in Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine state.

&quot;The United States will also pursue accountability through US&nbsp;law, including possible targeted sanctions&nbsp;against those responsible for the alleged abuses, which have driven hundreds of thousands of Rohingya into neighbouring Bangladesh,&quot;&nbsp;he said.

&quot;Burma&#39;s government and security forces must respect the human rights of all persons within its borders, and hold accountable those who fail to do so,&quot; the US secretary of state said, adding, &quot;No provocation can justify the horrendous atrocities that have ensued.&quot;

According to human rights monitor over 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Rakhine state from Myanmar to neighbouring Bangladesh since August 25th as the Myanmar Army reportedly began to evict the ethnic Rohingyas from the country. 
&nbsp; 
&quot;These abuses by some among the Burmese military, security forces, and local vigilantes have caused tremendous suffering and forced hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children to flee their homes,&quot; Tillerson said.

The Myanmar government has been condemned by several governments in the UN including France and UK.&nbsp;

China had volunteered to solve the Rohingya crisis after foreign minister Wang Yi visited met his counterpart AH Mahmood Ali in Bangladesh on Monday.

Chinese foreign minister said he was also ready to negotiate with Bangladesh to seek a better solution to the Rohingya refugee crisis which has soured relations between Myanmar and Bangladesh.

&quot;Bangladesh and Myanmar are both close neighbours and good friends of China. China is willing to play a role in properly solving this Rohingya issue,&quot; China&#39;s foreign minister had said.

Bangladesh and Myanmar officials had met last week to begin the process of repatriating Rohingya refugees. De facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi had said Myanmar would follow the framework of an agreement reached in the 1990s to cover the earlier repatriation of Rohingya.&nbsp;

Amid the crisis, Pope Francis is set to travel to Myanmar and Bangladesh next week in a bid to help resolve the crisis. Pope Francis will meet the head of Myanmar&#39;s army General Min Aung Hlaing and Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.&nbsp;

The Pope will meet &nbsp;Aung San Suu Kyi separately in the capital Naypyitaw.

According to human rights monitor over 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Rakhine state in from Myanmar to neighbouring Bangladesh

Ahead of Pope Francis visit to Myanmar next week, the US sent out a tough message to the Myanmar government calling for "accountability" and a stop to "horrendous atrocities" against Rohingyas. US secretary of state Rex Tillerson in a strongly worded statement said: "After a careful and thorough analysis of available facts, it is clear that the situation in northern Rakhine state constitutes ethnic cleansing against the Rohingyas." Tillerson who had visited Myanmar a fortnight ago had avoided using the term "ethnic cleansing" even as both the US and UN had slammed the Myanmar government over reported "ethnic cleansing" in Myanmar's Rakhine state. "The United States will also pursue accountability through US law, including possible targeted sanctions against those responsible for the alleged abuses, which have driven hundreds of thousands of Rohingya into neighbouring Bangladesh," he said. "Burma's government and security forces must respect the human rights of all persons within its borders, and hold accountable those who fail to do so," the US secretary of state said, adding, "No provocation can justify the horrendous atrocities that have ensued." According to human rights monitor over 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Rakhine state from Myanmar to neighbouring Bangladesh since August 25th as the Myanmar Army reportedly began to evict the ethnic Rohingyas from the country. "These abuses by some among the Burmese military, security forces, and local vigilantes have caused tremendous suffering and forced hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children to flee their homes," Tillerson said. The Myanmar government has been condemned by several governments in the UN including France and UK. China had volunteered to solve the Rohingya crisis after foreign minister Wang Yi visited met his counterpart AH Mahmood Ali in Bangladesh on Monday. Chinese foreign minister said he was also ready to negotiate with Bangladesh to seek a better solution to the Rohingya refugee crisis which has soured relations between Myanmar and Bangladesh. "Bangladesh and Myanmar are both close neighbours and good friends of China. China is willing to play a role in properly solving this Rohingya issue," China's foreign minister had said. Bangladesh and Myanmar officials had met last week to begin the process of repatriating Rohingya refugees. De facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi had said Myanmar would follow the framework of an agreement reached in the 1990s to cover the earlier repatriation of Rohingya. Amid the crisis, Pope Francis is set to travel to Myanmar and Bangladesh next week in a bid to help resolve the crisis. Pope Francis will meet the head of Myanmar's army General Min Aung Hlaing and Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. The Pope will meet Aung San Suu Kyi separately in the capital Naypyitaw.

Rohingya crisis: US will possibly pursue targeted sanctions against Myanmar, says Tillerson

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/provide-freedom-to-people-in-pok-india-to-pakistan-at-un-24140">Provide freedom to people in PoK: India to Pakistan at UN</a>

The Indian government in the United Nations appealed to Pakistan to &quot;dismantle special terrorist zones and safe havens in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir&quot; (PoK) at the third Universal Periodic Review (UPR). 
&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/italy-fail-to-qualify-for-next-world-cup-buffon-quits-24137">Italy fails to qualify for next World Cup, Buffon quits</a>

2006 World Champions Italy failed to qualify for next World in Russia after they were held to a goalless draw by Sweden at the San Siro in Milan on Monday night.

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-military-denies-atrocities-against-rohingya-24141">Myanmar military denies atrocities against Rohingyas, replaces general</a>

Myanmar&#39;s army released a report on Monday denying all allegations of rape and killings by security forces, having days earlier replaced the general. 
&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/venezuelas-state-run-oil-firm-pdvsa-misses-debt-payment-to-ongc-24144">Venezuela&#39;s state-run oil firm PDVSA misses debt payment to ONGC</a>

As Venezuela&#39;s debt crisis deepens, reports say state-owned oil firm PDVSA has not made debt payments to India&#39;s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation(ONGC) for six months.

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/domestic-and-international-flights-affected-due-to-smog-in-paks-punjab-province-24138">Flights affected due to smog in Pak&#39;s Punjab province</a>

Almost 60 international as well as domestic flights are being affected every day for the past one week in Pakistan&#39;s Punjab province due to smog

Myanmar's army released a report on Monday denying all allegations of rape and killings by security forces

Provide freedom to people in PoK: India to Pakistan at UN The Indian government in the United Nations appealed to Pakistan to "dismantle special terrorist zones and safe havens in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir" (PoK) at the third Universal Periodic Review (UPR). Italy fails to qualify for next World Cup, Buffon quits 2006 World Champions Italy failed to qualify for next World in Russia after they were held to a goalless draw by Sweden at the San Siro in Milan on Monday night. Myanmar military denies atrocities against Rohingyas, replaces general Myanmar's army released a report on Monday denying all allegations of rape and killings by security forces, having days earlier replaced the general. Venezuela's state-run oil firm PDVSA misses debt payment to ONGC As Venezuela's debt crisis deepens, reports say state-owned oil firm PDVSA has not made debt payments to India's Oil and Natural Gas Corporation(ONGC) for six months. Flights affected due to smog in Pak's Punjab province Almost 60 international as well as domestic flights are being affected every day for the past one week in Pakistan's Punjab province due to smog

WION Morning news brief, November 14, 2017

Myanmar&#39;s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, visited areas hit by conflict in the western state of Rakhine on Thursday for the first time since attacks by militants from the Rohingya Muslim minority two months ago sparked a refugee crisis.

A Reuters reporter saw Suu Kyi board a military helicopter at Sittwe, the Rakhine state capital, at about 9 a.m.&nbsp;on Thursday.

Spokesman Zaw Htay said that&nbsp;she was visiting the troubled border district of Maungdaw, where more than 600,000 members of the stateless Rohingya group have crossed into Bangladesh since Aug. 25.

&quot;She will go to Maungdaw and I cannot give any more details,&quot; he said.

Suu Kyi had not previously visited Rakhine state since assuming power last year after a landslide 2015 election victory. The majority of residents in Maungdaw were Muslims until the recent crisis.

Myanmar has been stung by international criticism and accusations of ethnic cleansing, which it rejects, for the way its security forces responded to attacks by Rohingya militants on 30 security posts.

Suu Kyi was accompanied on Thursday by about 20 people travelling in two military helicopters, including state officials and military and police officers.

Businessman Zaw Zaw, formerly sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury, was also with the Nobel Laureate.

Suu Kyi launched an initiative last month to assist rehabilitation and resettlement in Rakhine and has called for tycoons to contribute to the project.

She has pledged that refugees who can prove they were residents of Myanmar will be allowed to return, but thousands of people have continued to arrive in Bangladesh as recently as last night.

Talks with Bangladesh have yet to lead to an agreement on a repatriation process made more complex because the Rohingya have long been denied citizenship in Myanmar.

Suu Kyi had not previously visited Rakhine state since assuming power last year after a landslide 2015 election victory. The majority of residents in Maungdaw were Muslims until the recent crisis.

Myanmar's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, visited areas hit by conflict in the western state of Rakhine on Thursday for the first time since attacks by militants from the Rohingya Muslim minority two months ago sparked a refugee crisis. A Reuters reporter saw Suu Kyi board a military helicopter at Sittwe, the Rakhine state capital, at about 9 a.m. on Thursday. Spokesman Zaw Htay said that she was visiting the troubled border district of Maungdaw, where more than 600,000 members of the stateless Rohingya group have crossed into Bangladesh since Aug. 25. "She will go to Maungdaw and I cannot give any more details," he said. Suu Kyi had not previously visited Rakhine state since assuming power last year after a landslide 2015 election victory. The majority of residents in Maungdaw were Muslims until the recent crisis. Myanmar has been stung by international criticism and accusations of ethnic cleansing, which it rejects, for the way its security forces responded to attacks by Rohingya militants on 30 security posts. Suu Kyi was accompanied on Thursday by about 20 people travelling in two military helicopters, including state officials and military and police officers. Businessman Zaw Zaw, formerly sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury, was also with the Nobel Laureate. Suu Kyi launched an initiative last month to assist rehabilitation and resettlement in Rakhine and has called for tycoons to contribute to the project. She has pledged that refugees who can prove they were residents of Myanmar will be allowed to return, but thousands of people have continued to arrive in Bangladesh as recently as last night. Talks with Bangladesh have yet to lead to an agreement on a repatriation process made more complex because the Rohingya have long been denied citizenship in Myanmar.

Myanmar's Suu Kyi visits troubled Rakhine border district

A combination of escalating violence, worsening health and poor access to conflict zones in Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine state is fueling a humanitarian crisis that is spinning out of control, senior aid officials said on Thursday.

&quot;We&#39;ve seen a massive increase in violence not just between armed actors but also civilians, which is tearing families apart and leaving people to feel completely abandoned and disenfranchised&quot; Peter Maurer, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

More than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have crossed the border to neighbouring Bangladesh since August&nbsp;25, when coordinated Rohingya insurgent attacks on security posts sparked a ferocious counter-offensive by the Myanmar army.

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Representative photo (Reuters)
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The United Nations says killings, arson and rape have been carried out by troops and ethnic Rakhine Buddhist mobs amount to a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya.

&quot;I worry that this continued context of fear and violence is spinning out of control and will only lead to displacement of more people&quot; Maurer said.

Myanmar has blocked humanitarian agencies apart from Red Cross organisations from accessing the northern part of Rakhine state in western Myanmar, where the conflict worsened at the end of August.

&quot;Being one of the only actors able to operate in Myanmar presents a considerable challenge in terms of accessing villages and knowing where displaced people are&quot; Maurer said.

&quot;Some of my colleagues have had to walk for six-seven hours to a village, only to find it&#39;s been deserted&quot; he said, although the Myanmar authorities had recently authorised Red Cross staff to use two helicopters to better track displaced people.

Maurer said high levels of inter-communal violence meant that aid workers were sometimes met with a mixed reception&nbsp;by communities and had to take extreme care to convince people that we are not here to take anyone&#39;s side.

The humanitarian crisis is compounded by a worsening health situation, experts say.

Nipin Gangadharan, Bangladesh country director at aid organisation Action Against Hunger, said refugees arriving in Bangladesh were taking a longer time to get here because of the constant violence, so their health is deteriorating significantly.

&quot;We&#39;re seeing rising levels of malnutrition, particularly among children, and people who survive on one meal a day,&quot; he said, adding that his organisation was treating malnourished children and providing mental health support to refugees suffering from trauma.

&quot;There&#39;s no end in sight to the conflict, so us humanitarian actors are in it for the long run,&quot; Gangadharan said.

Maurer shared his view, saying that we&#39;re still in emergency response mode, handing out survival kits, two months after the conflict escalated. &quot;I fear that&#39;s still going to be the case for the next few weeks&quot; he said.&nbsp;

A combination of escalating violence, worsening health and poor access to conflict zones in Myanmar's Rakhine state is fueling a humanitarian crisis that is spinning out of control, senior aid officials said on Thursday.

A combination of escalating violence, worsening health and poor access to conflict zones in Myanmar's Rakhine state is fueling a humanitarian crisis that is spinning out of control, senior aid officials said on Thursday. "We've seen a massive increase in violence not just between armed actors but also civilians, which is tearing families apart and leaving people to feel completely abandoned and disenfranchised" Peter Maurer, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. More than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have crossed the border to neighbouring Bangladesh since August 25, when coordinated Rohingya insurgent attacks on security posts sparked a ferocious counter-offensive by the Myanmar army. Representative photo (Reuters) × The United Nations says killings, arson and rape have been carried out by troops and ethnic Rakhine Buddhist mobs amount to a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya. "I worry that this continued context of fear and violence is spinning out of control and will only lead to displacement of more people" Maurer said. Myanmar has blocked humanitarian agencies apart from Red Cross organisations from accessing the northern part of Rakhine state in western Myanmar, where the conflict worsened at the end of August. "Being one of the only actors able to operate in Myanmar presents a considerable challenge in terms of accessing villages and knowing where displaced people are" Maurer said. "Some of my colleagues have had to walk for six-seven hours to a village, only to find it's been deserted" he said, although the Myanmar authorities had recently authorised Red Cross staff to use two helicopters to better track displaced people. Maurer said high levels of inter-communal violence meant that aid workers were sometimes met with a mixed reception by communities and had to take extreme care to convince people that we are not here to take anyone's side. The humanitarian crisis is compounded by a worsening health situation, experts say. Nipin Gangadharan, Bangladesh country director at aid organisation Action Against Hunger, said refugees arriving in Bangladesh were taking a longer time to get here because of the constant violence, so their health is deteriorating significantly. "We're seeing rising levels of malnutrition, particularly among children, and people who survive on one meal a day," he said, adding that his organisation was treating malnourished children and providing mental health support to refugees suffering from trauma. "There's no end in sight to the conflict, so us humanitarian actors are in it for the long run," Gangadharan said. Maurer shared his view, saying that we're still in emergency response mode, handing out survival kits, two months after the conflict escalated. "I fear that's still going to be the case for the next few weeks" he said.

Myanmar's Rohingya crisis spinning out of control: Aid officials

The US State Department is considering<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-wants-myanmar-to-set-conditions-for-return-of-rohingya-22739"> a range steps including &quot;targeted sanctions&quot;&nbsp;against the Myanmar </a>government over its handling of the Rohingya crisis which has spiralled out of control in recent weeks.

&quot;We express our gravest concern <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/rohingya-crisis-china-official-says-foreign-interference-doesnt-work-22687">with recent events in Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine state and the violent</a>, traumatic abuses Rohingya and other communities have endured,&quot; US &nbsp;State Department said in a statement.

&quot;It is imperative that any individuals or entities responsible for atrocities, including non-state actors and vigilantes, be held accountable,&quot; the statement added.

The US may target Myanmar with sanctions under its Global Magnitsky law, the State Department said.

The US may target Myanmar with sanctions under its Global Magnitsky law, the State Department said.

The US State Department is considering a range steps including "targeted sanctions" against the Myanmar government over its handling of the Rohingya crisis which has spiralled out of control in recent weeks. "We express our gravest concern with recent events in Myanmar's Rakhine state and the violent, traumatic abuses Rohingya and other communities have endured," US State Department said in a statement. "It is imperative that any individuals or entities responsible for atrocities, including non-state actors and vigilantes, be held accountable," the statement added. The US may target Myanmar with sanctions under its Global Magnitsky law, the State Department said.

Considering sanctions on Myanmar over treatment of Rohingyas: US

The United Nations said today <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-takes-first-step-towards-calming-communal-hatred-21228">attacks on&nbsp;Rohingyas in Myanmar was aimed at&nbsp;</a>driving them out the country and prevent them from returning home.

The United Nation came <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/wion-exclusive-pakistans-role-behind-rohingya-insurgent-groups-cant-be-ruled-out-says-ht-imam-20803">to this conclusion after interviewing Rohingyas </a>who have fled to Bangladesh, AFP reported.

&quot;Brutal attacks against Rohingya in northern Rakhine State have been well-organised, coordinated and systematic, with the intent of not only driving the population out of Myanmar but preventing them from returning to their homes,&quot; AFP quoted the UN investigation team as saying.&nbsp;

The UNHCR had reported on Monday that over 11,000 Rohingyas had crossed into &nbsp;Bangladesh in one day in a surprising move especially after the rate of influx had slowed to 2,000 per day.

&quot;We&#39;re back in a situation of full alert as far as influxes are concerned. It is a big increase to see 11,000,&quot; Reuters quoted Adrian Edwards, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

&quot;We have had big numbers coming across by the day over the six weeks of this emergency. So we are back up to approaching some of those peak arrivals. Clearly, we have to be prepared for more arrivals,&quot; he said.

&quot;Some said they had fled torching and killings back home; one boy was seen with a big gash across his neck,&quot; Edwards added.

International agencies and governments in western nations have strongly condemned Myanmar&#39;s handling of the Rohingya crisis.&nbsp;

The United States had accused Myanmar of &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot; of minority Rohingya Muslims, saying the bloodshed in Rakhine state had shamed Aung Sang Suu Kyi&#39;s government.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The UNHCR had reported on Monday that over 11,000 Rohingyas had crossed into ?Bangladesh

The United Nations said today attacks on Rohingyas in Myanmar was aimed at driving them out the country and prevent them from returning home. The United Nation came to this conclusion after interviewing Rohingyas who have fled to Bangladesh, AFP reported. "Brutal attacks against Rohingya in northern Rakhine State have been well-organised, coordinated and systematic, with the intent of not only driving the population out of Myanmar but preventing them from returning to their homes," AFP quoted the UN investigation team as saying. The UNHCR had reported on Monday that over 11,000 Rohingyas had crossed into Bangladesh in one day in a surprising move especially after the rate of influx had slowed to 2,000 per day. "We're back in a situation of full alert as far as influxes are concerned. It is a big increase to see 11,000," Reuters quoted Adrian Edwards, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. "We have had big numbers coming across by the day over the six weeks of this emergency. So we are back up to approaching some of those peak arrivals. Clearly, we have to be prepared for more arrivals," he said. "Some said they had fled torching and killings back home; one boy was seen with a big gash across his neck," Edwards added. International agencies and governments in western nations have strongly condemned Myanmar's handling of the Rohingya crisis. The United States had accused Myanmar of "ethnic cleansing" of minority Rohingya Muslims, saying the bloodshed in Rakhine state had shamed Aung Sang Suu Kyi's government.

Attacks on Rohingyas intended to not just drive them out but prevent them from returning: UN report

United Nation refugee agency reported<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/rohingya-militants-say-ceasefire-to-end-on-october-9-21110"> today over 11,000 Rohingyas crossed into &nbsp;Bangladesh </a>on Monday in a surprising move especially after the rate of influx had slowed to 2,000 per day.

&quot;We&#39;re back in a situation of full alert as far <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/myanmar-12-dead-in-violence-by-rohingya-militants-in-rakhine-19477">as influxes are concerned. It is a big increase to see 11,000</a>,&quot; Adrian Edwards, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said.

Many of the refugees are reported to come from the Buthidaung area in Myanmar&#39;s northern Rakhine state, which is 20-25 kilometres east of Maungdaw, Reuters reported.

&quot;We have had big numbers coming across by the day over the six weeks of this emergency. So we are back up to approaching some of those peak arrivals. Clearly we have to be prepared for more arrivals,&quot; he said.

&quot;Some said they had fled torching and killings back home; one boy was seen with a big gash across his neck,&quot; Edwards added.

Authorities fear an outbreak of cholera could make matters worse as Bangladesh Cox&#39;s Bazar has seen several thousand refugees arriving in large numbers with poor facilities in most camps with the local administration struggling to put things in order.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Meanwhile, Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi conducted inter-faith prayers at a stadium in the biggest city of Yangon with Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus and Christians in attendance.&nbsp;

International agencies and governments in western nations have strongly condemned Myanmar&#39;s handling of the Rohinga crisis.&nbsp;

The United States had accused Myanmar of &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot; of minority Rohingya Muslims, saying the bloodshed in Rakhine state had shamed Aung Sang Suu Kyi&#39;s government.

&quot;This is for peace and stability,&quot; party spokesman Aung Shin told Reuters after the inter-faith prayers.&nbsp;

&quot;Peace in Rakhine and peace nationwide.&quot;

Many of the refugees are reported to come from the Buthidaung area in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state, which is 20-25 kilometres east of Maungdaw.

United Nation refugee agency reported today over 11,000 Rohingyas crossed into Bangladesh on Monday in a surprising move especially after the rate of influx had slowed to 2,000 per day. "We're back in a situation of full alert as far as influxes are concerned. It is a big increase to see 11,000," Adrian Edwards, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said. Many of the refugees are reported to come from the Buthidaung area in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state, which is 20-25 kilometres east of Maungdaw, Reuters reported. "We have had big numbers coming across by the day over the six weeks of this emergency. So we are back up to approaching some of those peak arrivals. Clearly we have to be prepared for more arrivals," he said. "Some said they had fled torching and killings back home; one boy was seen with a big gash across his neck," Edwards added. Authorities fear an outbreak of cholera could make matters worse as Bangladesh Cox's Bazar has seen several thousand refugees arriving in large numbers with poor facilities in most camps with the local administration struggling to put things in order. Meanwhile, Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi conducted inter-faith prayers at a stadium in the biggest city of Yangon with Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus and Christians in attendance. International agencies and governments in western nations have strongly condemned Myanmar's handling of the Rohinga crisis. The United States had accused Myanmar of "ethnic cleansing" of minority Rohingya Muslims, saying the bloodshed in Rakhine state had shamed Aung Sang Suu Kyi's government. "This is for peace and stability," party spokesman Aung Shin told Reuters after the inter-faith prayers. "Peace in Rakhine and peace nationwide."

UNHCR on alert as 11,000 Rohingyas cross into Bangladesh in one day

A Myanmar beauty queen has been stripped of her title after she posted a video accusing&nbsp;Rohingya Muslims of driving <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/rohingya-situation-textbook-example-of-ethnic-cleansing-un-human-rights-commission-20075" target="_blank">communal violence in the Rakhine state of Myanmar</a>.

Shwe Eain Si, 19, who was Miss Grand Myanmar, posted a video on Facebook last week describing the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) a &quot;caliphate-style movement&quot;&nbsp;and said she was using her fame to &quot;speak out the truth&quot;.

Watch the video:

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zMF3OF7NbNk" width="970"></iframe>

She can be seen talking in English in the video along with graphic images of dead bodies&nbsp;including those of children. She branded ARSA a &quot;terrorist organisation&quot; that was &quot;acting as if they are the oppressed&quot;.&nbsp;

In her posts, she blamed the&nbsp;ARSA of&nbsp;violence, accusing the &quot;militants&quot;&nbsp;of turning on their own people and then orchestrating a media campaign to win international support.

Organisers of the Miss Universe Myanmar on Sunday took a decision to strip her of her title. They did not mention the video while making the announcement&nbsp;but said that she &quot;had breached the contract rules&quot;&nbsp;and had &quot;not behaved like a role model&quot;.

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The organisers have stripped her of the title as she &#39;failed to project a decent image of a pageant contestant&#39;. (Others)
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After the announcement came on Sunday, she posted a reply on Facebook on Tuesday calling the accusations as &quot;groundless&quot;.&nbsp;

Myanmar&#39;s army has been accused of waging an &quot;ethnic cleansing campaign against the Rohingya&quot; resulting in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/270000-rohingya-have-fled-myanmar-in-two-weeks-un-20008" target="_blank">more than half a million of the Muslim minority to flee the border to Bangladesh since August 25</a>.&nbsp;

In the face of intense global condemnation, Myanmar authorities have&nbsp;defended the security operation as a legitimate crackdown on Rohingya militants who attacked police posts last month.

This is not the first time when a beauty queen from Myanmar has been in the middle of a controversy.

In 2014, a Myanmar beauty queen was&nbsp;dethroned for alleged dishonesty and bad behaviour, after which she ran off with her crown to South Korea.

In a video posted on Facebook, she accused the Rohingya Muslims to 'act as if they are the oppressed'?to win 'media support'

A Myanmar beauty queen has been stripped of her title after she posted a video accusing Rohingya Muslims of driving communal violence in the Rakhine state of Myanmar. Shwe Eain Si, 19, who was Miss Grand Myanmar, posted a video on Facebook last week describing the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) a "caliphate-style movement" and said she was using her fame to "speak out the truth". Watch the video: She can be seen talking in English in the video along with graphic images of dead bodies including those of children. She branded ARSA a "terrorist organisation" that was "acting as if they are the oppressed". In her posts, she blamed the ARSA of violence, accusing the "militants" of turning on their own people and then orchestrating a media campaign to win international support. Organisers of the Miss Universe Myanmar on Sunday took a decision to strip her of her title. They did not mention the video while making the announcement but said that she "had breached the contract rules" and had "not behaved like a role model". The organisers have stripped her of the title as she 'failed to project a decent image of a pageant contestant'. (Others) × After the announcement came on Sunday, she posted a reply on Facebook on Tuesday calling the accusations as "groundless". Myanmar's army has been accused of waging an "ethnic cleansing campaign against the Rohingya" resulting in more than half a million of the Muslim minority to flee the border to Bangladesh since August 25. In the face of intense global condemnation, Myanmar authorities have defended the security operation as a legitimate crackdown on Rohingya militants who attacked police posts last month. This is not the first time when a beauty queen from Myanmar has been in the middle of a controversy. In 2014, a Myanmar beauty queen was dethroned for alleged dishonesty and bad behaviour, after which she ran off with her crown to South Korea.

Watch: Myanmar beauty queen calls Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army 'terrorist organisation', stripped of title

The Indian government announced on Monday that it has approved two immigration checkpoints to facilitate legal entries and exits for Rohingyas at its borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh, a media report stated.

One checkpoint has been designated in Zorinpui in Lawngtlai district of Mizoram, which forms a part of India&#39;s over 1500 km long border with Myanmar, the home ministry stated in a gazette notification.&nbsp;

The checkpoint will be an authorised immigration check post for all classes of passengers to or from Myanmar&nbsp;with valid travel documents, the DNA report said citing the government notification.

The Kawrpuichhuah land check post in Mizoram&#39;s Lunglei district has also been designated as an authorised immigration checkpoint for entry into or exit from India for all classes of passengers to or from Bangladesh with valid travel documents.&nbsp;The checkpost is situated along a riverine border with Bangladesh, the DNA report said.

India shares a 4,096 km of border with Bangladesh which includes the states of Mizoram, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and West Bengal.

Zorinpui is located just 287 km away from the deep sea port India is building up at Sittwe,&nbsp;the capital of Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine state where the ongoing violence against the Rohingyas has led to an influx of&nbsp;Rohingya Muslims and illegal Bangladeshi immigrants into India.

The border post at Zorinpui forms an important link for the upcoming Kaladan Multi-Modal Project, the DNA report stated.

A team of top bureaucrats who visited the area to review the security situation along India&#39;s border with Myanmar&nbsp;said not a single instance of mass exodus and influx of illegal immigrants from the neighbouring borders has been reported by the border guards so far.

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Both the checkpoints are located in Mizoram which shares its borders with both countries

The Indian government announced on Monday that it has approved two immigration checkpoints to facilitate legal entries and exits for Rohingyas at its borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh, a media report stated. One checkpoint has been designated in Zorinpui in Lawngtlai district of Mizoram, which forms a part of India's over 1500 km long border with Myanmar, the home ministry stated in a gazette notification. The checkpoint will be an authorised immigration check post for all classes of passengers to or from Myanmar with valid travel documents, the DNA report said citing the government notification. The Kawrpuichhuah land check post in Mizoram's Lunglei district has also been designated as an authorised immigration checkpoint for entry into or exit from India for all classes of passengers to or from Bangladesh with valid travel documents. The checkpost is situated along a riverine border with Bangladesh, the DNA report said. India shares a 4,096 km of border with Bangladesh which includes the states of Mizoram, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and West Bengal. Zorinpui is located just 287 km away from the deep sea port India is building up at Sittwe, the capital of Myanmar's Rakhine state where the ongoing violence against the Rohingyas has led to an influx of Rohingya Muslims and illegal Bangladeshi immigrants into India. The border post at Zorinpui forms an important link for the upcoming Kaladan Multi-Modal Project, the DNA report stated. A team of top bureaucrats who visited the area to review the security situation along India's border with Myanmar said not a single instance of mass exodus and influx of illegal immigrants from the neighbouring borders has been reported by the border guards so far.

India to open 2 checkpoints?for Rohingyas at Myanmar, Bangladesh borders

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