Tragedy strikes Rohingya Muslims again

Rasa - At least seven Rohingya Muslims, including three babies, have drowned in two separate incidents near the Bangladeshi coastline while fleeing violence in Myanmar.

News ID: 434500

Date: 31 October 2017 - 20:03

RNA - Four of the refugees died on Tuesday after their boat sank in inclement weather off the coast of Bangladesh, police authorities said.

“There were at least 33 people in the small trawler, which capsized after it was caught in high waves,” local Police Chief Abul Khair said. He said one of the victims was found dead at the scene while six others were rushed to the hospital in critical condition, three of whom later died.

Separately, officials also said that three babies fell into the water and drowned as their vessel reached the shore in the town of Teknaf on Monday evening.

“Two of the children were dropped from their mothers’ laps,” said Teknaf Police Chief Main Uddin. “The children were aged between three and 10 months.”

The developments came as the United Nations estimates that more than 605,000 members of the Rohingya minority have fled government-sanctioned violence in Myanmar since August 25.

The refugees, in Bangladesh, have described systematic massacres, rape, and arson in their villages by Myanmarese troops and Buddhist mobs.

At least 200 Rohingya Muslim refugees have drowned since late August while making the sea crossing from Myanmar to Bangladesh.

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