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| Rohingya boats sink off west Burma - many missing | Rohingya boats sink off west Burma - many missing |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Several boats carrying Rohingya Muslims have capsized off western Burma leaving many people missing, aid agencies say. | Several boats carrying Rohingya Muslims have capsized off western Burma leaving many people missing, aid agencies say. |
| The boats, said to be carrying about 100 passengers, were evacuating people ahead of powerful Cyclone Mahasen. | The boats, said to be carrying about 100 passengers, were evacuating people ahead of powerful Cyclone Mahasen. |
| The vessels sank off Pauktaw township in Rakhine state late on Monday. More than 40 survivors have been found and eight bodies recovered. | The vessels sank off Pauktaw township in Rakhine state late on Monday. More than 40 survivors have been found and eight bodies recovered. |
| Thousands of Rohingya Muslims are living in temporary camps in Rakhine after violence last year. | 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' | 'Hit rocks' |
| Aid agencies said that the three boats got into trouble after setting out on Monday night. | Aid agencies said that the three boats got into trouble after setting out on Monday night. |
| Only one boat in the convoy had an engine, towing the other two smaller vessels. Reports say the vessels were overcrowded. | Only one boat in the convoy had an engine, towing the other two smaller vessels. Reports say the vessels were overcrowded. |
| Barbara Manzi, head of the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination 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 Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), told the BBC from Sittwe that search-and-rescue operations were ongoing. |
| She said that it appeared that the boats "left the camp with the blessing of the authorities before hitting rocks". | She said that it appeared that the boats "left the camp with the blessing of the authorities before hitting rocks". |
| Earlier reports suggested that up 200 people were on board, but the UN later revised the number to about 100. | Earlier reports suggested that up 200 people were on board, but the UN later revised the number to about 100. |
| Burmese officials began evacuations this week, after warnings the cyclone might hit neighbouring Bangladesh from Thursday, bringing heavy rain and flooding to western Burma. | Burmese officials began evacuations this week, after warnings the cyclone might 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." |
| Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said that if the government failed to evacuate those at risk, "any disaster that results will not be natural but man-made". | Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said that if the government failed to evacuate those at risk, "any disaster that results will not be natural but man-made". |
| But some people have reportedly refused to leave because they fear having nowhere else to go. | 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. | "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." | "Many people are in trouble. But we have no idea what we should do." |
| According to Nasa, Cyclone Mahasen was north-east of Sri Lanka on Monday. It was expected to strengthen as it moved north and hit Burma late in the week, the agency said. | According to Nasa, Cyclone Mahasen was north-east of Sri Lanka on Monday. It was expected to strengthen as it moved north and hit Burma late in the week, the agency said. |
| 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. | 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. |