UN: Cyclone season threatens more than half-million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The impending cyclone season is bearing down not only on the more than one-half million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar in Bangladesh refugee camps but also on an estimated 185,000 Rohingya children still in Myanmar's Rakhine State, the chief UN spokesman said on Friday.

Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, spotlighted the refugees' plight at a daily briefing for reporters at UN Headquarters, quoting reports from the UN Children's Agency (UNICEF).

The agency marked six months since the latest surge of Rohingya refugees into southern Bangladesh began at the end of August 2017, saying floods from the coming cyclones "are likely to engulf the fragile and unsanitary camps where most of the refugees are living, raising the likelihood of waterborne disease outbreaks and forcing clinics, learning centers and other facilities for children to close."

According to UNICEF, an estimated 185,000 Rohingya children also remain in Myanmar's Rakhine State, fearful of violence that drove so many of their relatives and neighbors to flee.

The exodus started after alleged deadly Rohingya rebel attacks on Myanmar security posts triggered violent retaliations from vigilantes and militias leading to the flight of about 650,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh.

UN agencies estimate there are around 534,000 Rohingya refugee children from last year and previous influxes to Bangladesh. In all it is estimated there are more than 800,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

Asked about the return of refugees to Myanmar, Dujarric said they only should return to the sites of their former homes voluntarily, when they feel safe. "No one should be forced," he said. Enditem