UNHCR expresses concern on Bhasan Char incident

UNHCR expressed concern about the incidents involving injury of some Rohingya people in Bhasan Char in Bangladesh during the visit of its two officials to the island camp on Monday.

‘We are deeply concerned to learn of reports of refugees who have been injured during today’s events on the island. We regret that those affected reportedly include children and women,’ UNHCR spokesperson Louise Donovan said in a statement issued on Monday night.

The UNHCR said it would continue to urgently seek additional information on the condition of the affected and urged the authorities concern to provide the victims with adequate medical assistance.

Several Rohingyas, including women and children, were injured in actions of the Police during agitations of some members of the community, officials in Bhasan Char said.

Several thousand Rohingyas living in Bhasan Char under the coastal district of Noakhali on Monday staged demonstrations in the presence of two senior UN officials demanded that there should be scope for income generation in the island and steps to ensure repatriation to Myanmar.

The demonstrators attempted to proceed in groups to the local helipad immediately after the arrival of UNHCR assistant high commissioners Raouf Mazou and Gillian Triggs at the island. Local Police dispersed the mob through peaceful manoeuvring, a government official said.

They also congregated in front of the guest house where the UNHCR team held a briefing on the management of the Rohingya camp established in Bhasan Char amid tight security.

The demonstrators finally gathered in front of the warehouse of the island after the camp management assured them that the UN team would listen to them there.

The Rohingyas were agitated and pelted brickbats at two local markets, the office of the Bhasan Char camp-in-charge, fire station and the warehouse used by the government agencies, said a Rohingya leader in the island.

Police charged batons on sections of agitating Rohingyas as they attempted to vandalise some of the installations on the island, said a government official.

News Courtesy:

http://www.newagebd.net/article/139392/unhcr-expresses-concern-on-bhasan-char-incident