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FONTAINE JONATHAN/SIPA/REX
World News

Christians want UN to intervene in Burma

The Chief Executive of CSW, Mervyn Thomas, said: "We are deeply disturbed by the unfolding human tragedy facing the Rohingyas, thousands of whom have fled dire living conditions in displacement camps in Arakan (Rakhine) State, Burma, where they have little or no access to basic humanitarian aid and where they face severe racial and religious persecution.

"It is time for the international community to work together to address this crisis, both the immediate humanitarian emergency and the longer-term root causes, and that is why we have joined with other organisations in writing to the Secretary-General today."

Writing after visiting camps in the area, UN Assistant General-Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs, Kyung-hwa Kang, wrote: "I witnessed a level of human suffering in the IDP camps that I have personally never seen before ... appalling conditions .... wholly inadequate access to basic services including health, education, water and sanitation."

It is thought more than 70 per cent of Rohingya do not have access to safe water or sanitation services.

CWS has reported that in Maungdaw Township, there is just one doctor per 160,000 people, The World Health Organisation recommends one doctor per 5000 people.

The letter to the UN says: "While the crisis is most acute in the camps, it is important to note that around 800,000 Rohingya living outside the camps are also in urgent need of assistance.

"In some areas the rates of malnutrition is over 20 per cent and the provision of health services is almost non-existent."

They also argue that "it is essential also that humanitarian aid is not only provided to the Rohingya, but also to all those in need of assistance.

"Rakhine State is the second poorest state in Myanmar, where 44 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line - almost twenty per cent more than the average in most parts of Myanmar."

It added an appeal for "humanitarian aid to be provided to all in need, regardless of race or religion.

"Hundreds of thousands of people who have little food, medicine or shelter and have been stripped not only of their citizenship but also their basic dignity are looking to you and to the United Nations for help.

"We appeal to you not to fail them."

Meanwhile there are concerns for an estimated 4,000 people who are thought to be stranded at sea after fleeing the country.

UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency, warned on Tuesday "that time was running out" for the migrants fleeing sectarian violence in Burma and poverty in neighbouring Bangladesh.

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