UN envoy fears “new crisis” for the Rohingya

News Desk:

Yanghee Lee, a United Nations human rights investigator on Myanmar voiced deep concern on Monday at Bangladesh’s plan to relocate 23,000 Rohingya refugees to a remote island in April, saying that it may not be habitable, creating a potential “new crisis”.

Bangladesh says moving refugees to Bhasan Char – whose name means “floating island” – will ease chronic overcrowding in its camps at Cox’s Bazar, which hold some 730,000 Rohingya. The U.N. says the Muslim minority fled mass killings and rapes committed during an army crackdown in western Arakan state since August 2017.

Some humanitarian groups have criticised the relocation plan, saying the island is vulnerable to frequent cyclones and cannot provide a livelihood for thousands of people.