In all, almost 600,000 Rohingya refugees have left northern Rakhine state since Aug. 25 when the UN says the Myanmar army began a campaign of "ethnic cleansing" following insurgent attacks. "So it is absolutely critical that the borders remain open and that protection for children is given and equally that children born in Bangladesh have their birth registered." One in five Rohingya children under the age of five is estimated to be acutely malnourished, requiring medical attention, he said. UNICEF is providing clean water and toilets, and has helped vaccinate children against measles and cholera, which can be deadly, he said. "We repeat the call for the need for protection of all children in Rakhine state, this is an absolute fundamental requirement.

Source: bd News24 October 20, 2017 00:00 UTC