Death toll climbs to 89

Myanmar’s government said it had evacuated at least 4,000 non-Muslim villagers amid ongoing clashes in northwestern Rakhine State, as thousands more Rohingya Muslims sought to flee across the border to Bangladesh on Sunday.

The death toll from the violence that erupted on Friday with coordinated attacks by Rohingya insurgents has climbed to 89. Meanwhile, hundreds of Rohingya were seen at the no man’s land.

Win Myat Aye, Myanmar’s minister for social welfare, relief and resettlement, told Reuters late on Saturday that 4,000 “ethnic villagers” who had fled their villages had been evacuated, referring to non-Muslim residents of the area.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and locals said that many of the Rohingya who have crossed the border are injured, some carrying bullet wounds.

They also warned of a “befitting response” if Myanmar border guards create any “untoward situation” in the border areas. “ We are prepared to face any untoward situation if it is created on the bordering area,” said BGB Director General Maj Gen Abul Hossain while addressing a press conference on Sunday.

Bangladesh on Saturday had summoned Myanmar envoy in Dhaka, Aung Myint, to express “serious concern” over the fresh influx of Rohingya. The country also pointed out that this is occuring at a time when the Rakhine Advisory Commission, popularly known as Kofi Annan Commission, has made recommendations towards finding a durable solution for the issue.