87,000 Rohingyas enter Bangladesh since last year: IOM

Rohingya refugees fleeing from Myanmar sitting in a boat after Bangladesh coast guard stopped them on Naf river from entering the country. AFP file photo
Rohingya refugees fleeing from Myanmar sitting in a boat after Bangladesh coast guard stopped them on Naf river from entering the country. AFP file photo

Approximately 87,000 undocumented Myanmar nationals have so far entered Bangladesh following an outbreak of violence on 9 October last year in the Rakhine State of Myanmar, reports news agency UNB.

The influx slowed in late February 2017; however, more new arrivals from Myanmar were reported in July, according to an assessment of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

Earlier, the figure was 80,000 arrivals.

The figure stood over 87,000 with more new arrivals in July and August this year, officials in Cox’s Bazar said.

The majority of them are living in Ukhia and Teknaf upazilas of Cox’s Bazar district, a district bordering Myanmar identified as the main entry area for border crossing.

Among those assessed, 52 per cent are women and girls.

The National Strategy on Myanmar Refugees and Undocumented Myanmar Nationals (UMN) formulated by the government of Bangladesh highlighted the fact that more than 3,00,000 Rohingyas have crossed the border and are living in Bangladesh.

Needs and Population Monitoring (NPM) is designed to regularly and systematically capture, monitor and disseminate information to provide a better understanding of the movements and evolving needs of populations on the move, whether on site or en route.

Source: Prothom Alo