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| Rohingya boat sinks off west Burma | Rohingya boat sinks off west Burma |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A boat carrying Rohingya Muslims has capsized off western Burma, aid agencies say. | A boat carrying Rohingya Muslims has capsized off western Burma, aid agencies say. |
| The boat, said to be carrying up to 200 passengers, was evacuating people ahead of Cyclone Mahasen, which is expected to hit the area later in the week. | The boat, said to be carrying up to 200 passengers, was evacuating people ahead of Cyclone Mahasen, which is expected to hit the area later in the week. |
| It sank off Pauktaw township in Rakhine state late on Monday, leaving an unknown number of people missing. | It sank off Pauktaw township in Rakhine state late on Monday, leaving an unknown number of people missing. |
| Tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims are living in temporary camps in Rakhine after violence last year. | Tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims are living in temporary camps in Rakhine after violence last year. |
| The UN had called for an urgent evacuation ahead of the storm, warning that many areas where displaced people are now living are in low-lying coastal areas at risk of flooding or tidal surges. | The UN had called for an urgent evacuation ahead of the storm, warning that many areas where displaced people are now living are in low-lying coastal areas at risk of flooding or tidal surges. |
| 'Hit rocks' | |
| Barbara Manzi, head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), told the BBC from Sittwe that search-and-rescue operations were ongoing. | Barbara Manzi, head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), told the BBC from Sittwe that search-and-rescue operations were ongoing. |
| "It appears that this boat left the camp with the blessing of the authorities before hitting rocks," she said. | "It appears that this boat left the camp with the blessing of the authorities before hitting rocks," she said. |
| There were between 100 and 200 people on board the boat, she added, with some survivors. | There were between 100 and 200 people on board the boat, she added, with some survivors. |
| Burmese officials began evacuations this week, after warnings the cyclone may hit neighbouring Bangladesh from Thursday, bringing heavy rain and flooding to western Burma. | Burmese officials began evacuations this week, after warnings the cyclone may hit neighbouring Bangladesh from Thursday, bringing heavy rain and flooding to western Burma. |
| This could hit an estimated 140,000 displaced people - mostly Rohingya - who are living in makeshift shelters in Rakhine, aid groups say. | This could hit an estimated 140,000 displaced people - mostly Rohingya - who are living in makeshift shelters in Rakhine, aid groups say. |
| They have been displaced since violent clashes between Rakhine's Muslim and Buddhist communities in June and October 2012. | They have been displaced since violent clashes between Rakhine's Muslim and Buddhist communities in June and October 2012. |
| "The government has been repeatedly warned to make appropriate arrangements for those displaced in Rakhine state," Isabelle Arradon, deputy Asia Pacific director of the rights group Amnesty International, said in a statement on Monday. | "The government has been repeatedly warned to make appropriate arrangements for those displaced in Rakhine state," Isabelle Arradon, deputy Asia Pacific director of the rights group Amnesty International, said in a statement on Monday. |
| "Now thousands of lives are at stake unless targeted action is taken immediately to assist those most at risk." | "Now thousands of lives are at stake unless targeted action is taken immediately to assist those most at risk." |
| But some people have reportedly refused to leave because they fear having nowhere else to go. | |
| "We are very worried about the cyclone... we do not have enough food to eat," a member of the Rohingya community told Agence-France Presse news agency. | |
| "Many people are in trouble. But we have no idea what we should do." | |
| Five years ago, Cyclone Nargis struck Burma's Irrawaddy Delta region, killing at least 140,000 people and leaving three million in urgent need of assistance. | |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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