BANDARBAN, Bangladesh: Panic is gripping thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees living in no-man's land on the Myanmar-Bangladesh border, with daily clashes between Myanmar security forces and ethnic Rakhine insurgents.
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar since a military crackdown started in 2017 -- most to sprawling refugee camps in Bangladesh -- but many have been living in limbo on the border, unwilling to enter the camps or return home.
They are now caught on the sidelines of fighting between Myanmar troops and the Arakan Army, a militant group seeking more autonomy for western Rakhine state's Buddhist-majority population.
"Heavy fighting is going on between the government troops and Arakan Army inside Myanmar," Rohingya leader Dil Mohammad told AFP.
"The situation is very tense," he said, adding the security build-up and daily gunfire had created "panic".
Myanmar troops last week set up security camps and bunkers along the border after fighting saw 13 police killed.
Some of the fortifications are directly adjacent to a border fence running alongside a stream, and overlook shacks erected by an estimated 4,500 displaced Muslims living in the narrow strip of land.
Refugee community leader Nur Alam said gunfire could frequently be heard after dark on the other side of the border.
"Every night it is close by. The Myanmar border guard have set up 10 new posts near our camp. It's very intimidating," he told AFP.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the United Nations said it was "deeply concerned" about the situation in the area.
A Bangladesh official said they were aware of the border tensions.
"We will talk to the relevant authorities to discuss what to do," local administrator Kamal Hossain said.
Rohingya in Buddhist-majority Myanmar have suffered decades of persecution. Impoverished western Rakhine state in particular is scarred by deep ethnic and religious hatred.
Refugees pouring into Bangladesh have detailed mass killings, arson and rape at the hands of Myanmar troops and Buddhist mobs.
Myanmar has denied any wrongdoing, saying it was defending itself against Rohingya militants who attacked police posts.
The United Nations has called for a genocide investigation into the crackdown.
New Myanmar unrest panics Rohingya in border limbo
New Myanmar unrest panics Rohingya in border limbo
- "Heavy fighting is going on between the government troops and Arakan Army inside Myanmar," Rohingya leader Dil Mohammad said
- Refugee community leader Nur Alam said gunfire could frequently be heard after dark on the other side of the border
Venezuela looks to rebuild diplomatic ties with US
- The State Department said US officials were assessing a “potential phased resumption” of embassy operations
- Washington and Caracas have signaled they are seeking cooperation
CARACAS: Venezuela’s government has begun exploring the potential to expand diplomatic ties with the United States, with US State Department officials traveling to Caracas for technical and logistical assessments, it said in a statement on Friday.
The State Department separately said the US officials were assessing a “potential phased resumption” of embassy operations in the South American country.
Washington and Caracas have signaled they are seeking cooperation since last week’s dramatic US military operation that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. His vice president Delcy Rodriguez took over as interim leader.
“The government of Venezuela has decided to initiate an exploratory diplomatic process with the US government, with a view to reestablishing the diplomatic missions in both countries,” the Venezuelan government said in a statement.
A Venezuelan delegation will also be sent to the US to carry out assessments, it said.
Earlier on Friday, US President Donald Trump said the release of political prisoners in Venezuela was a sign of “seeking peace” and that he had canceled a planned second wave of attacks.
