20,000 People displaced in Myanmar in one week

October 30, 2012: More than 22,000 people have been displaced by the renewed sectarian violence in Rakhine state of Myanmar, according to the United Nations and the authorities.
The clashes between minority Muslim Rohingyas and Buddhist Rakhines left 87 people dead and nearly 100 injured during the most recent flare-up between October 21 and 27, according to a report released on Monday by the government-run newspaper, the New Light of Myanmar.
A similar number of people were killed after violence in June.
A UN team that visited the conflict-hit zones of Minbya, Mrauk-U, Kyaukphyu and Myaebon townships in Rakhine state described large scale destruction of residential houses. Their report, released on Sunday, said that 22,500 people were displaced and more than 6,000 houses were burned in the renewed violence.
The number of displaced excludes thousands of other people forced to flee from the port city of KyaukPhyu. The UN has urged the government to give immediate support to those people.

“I am gravely concerned by the fear and mistrust that I saw in the eyes of the displaced people,” said Ashok Nigam, head of the UN office in Yangon, in the report. “It is critically important that the government ensures that the rule of law prevails, prevents any further spreading of this violence and continues to communicate strong messages of harmony.
“The violence, fear and mistrust is contrary to the democratic transition and economic and social development that Myanmar is committed to,” he added.