At least
10,000 Rohingya have arrived in Bangladesh in recent weeks, fleeing violence in
neighbouring Myanmar, the United Nations said on Wednesday.
"Based on
reports by various humanitarian agencies, we estimate that there could be
10,000 new arrivals in recent weeks," said Vivian Tan, a spokeswoman for
the UN refugee agency in Bangkok.
"The
situation is fast changing and the actual number could be much higher."
The Myanmar
army has carried out a bloody crackdown in the western state of Rakhine,
forcing some 30,000 people to flee their homes.
Bangladesh has
stepped up patrols on the border to try to stop the Rohingya from entering, but
last week it said thousands had flooded into the country.
Those
interviewed by AFP inside Bangladesh had horrifying stories of gang rape,
torture and murder at the hands of Myanmar's security forces.
Analysis of
satellite images by Human Rights Watch found hundreds of buildings in Rohingya
villages have been razed.
Myanmar has
denied allegations of abuse, saying the army is hunting "terrorists"
behind raids on police posts last month.
Foreign
journalists and independent investigators have been banned from accessing the
area to probe the claims.
On Tuesday,
the UN rights agency said Myanmar's treatment of the Rohingya could be
tantamount to crimes against humanity, reiterating the findings of a June report.
Tan said the
UN was urging the Bangladesh government to allow the Rohingya safe haven.
"We are
ready to support the government to provide effective humanitarian assistance
for these individuals in need of international protection," she said.
AFP
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