UN Expert Calls for Emergency Action as New Atrocities Threaten Rohingya in Myanmar

Rohingya villages are reportedly being destroyed by Arakan Army forces, who continue their campaign to expel junta forces from Rakhine State.

On the seventh anniversary of the military junta's brutal attacks that forced over 700,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh, Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, has issued an urgent call for global action to prevent a new wave of atrocities unfolding in Rakhine State.

Andrews emphasized that the best way to honor the victims of the 2017 genocidal attacks is through decisive action to stop the escalating violence against the Rohingya today. He pointed out that, despite clear warning signs, the international community has largely ignored the mounting threats, leaving hundreds of thousands of Rohingya civilians at severe risk.

The situation in Rakhine State is deteriorating rapidly. The military junta has deliberately inflamed tensions between the Rohingya and Rakhine communities, fueling deadly resentment. Rohingya men have been forcibly conscripted into the very military responsible for past genocidal acts, and some Rohingya militant groups have been coerced into collaborating with the junta, further destabilizing the region.

Rohingya villages are reportedly being destroyed by Arakan Army forces, who continue their campaign to expel junta forces from Rakhine State. Innocent Rohingya civilians are caught in the crossfire, with many villages being used as military bases, making them targets for artillery and drone strikes. As the violence escalates, the death toll rises, and tens of thousands of Rohingya are displaced, cut off from essential humanitarian aid.

Andrews highlighted the desperate situation facing those attempting to flee to Bangladesh, with many losing their lives as overcrowded boats sink in the Naf River. He stressed that the international community's repeated condemnations are insufficient in the face of ongoing genocide.

To address this crisis, Andrews called for an emergency convening of UN Member States to implement a comprehensive action plan. This plan would include drawing global attention to the crisis, launching strong measures to address its root causes, mobilizing robust humanitarian aid, and ensuring accountability for those responsible for grave human rights violations.

He also urged the Government of Bangladesh to reopen its borders to the fleeing Rohingya and called on Member States to provide the necessary support to manage this humanitarian responsibility.

"The worst way to mark the anniversary of the 2017 Rohingya genocide is with empty words and hollow declarations," Andrews warned. "The Rohingya need and deserve much more. There is no time to lose."