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US calls on Myanmar to allow in humanitarian aid

The United States on Thursday called on Myanmar's government to allow humanitarian aid into the state of Rakhine as the fighting between Rohingya fighters and states troops heightened and tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have fled. 

"There has been a significant displacement of local populations following serious allegations of human rights abuses - including mass burnings of Rohingya villages and violence conducted by security forces and also armed civilians," the spokesperson for the State Department, Heather Nauert said on Thursday.    

"We again condemn deadly attacks on Burmese security forces, but join the international community in calling on those forces to prevent further attacks on local populations."   

There have been widespread reports of mass atrocities by state forces with fleeing Rohingya refugees being shot at and their homes set alight. 

Over 160,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh, whilst many more have attempted to flee by sea. On Friday Malaysia's coast guard said it would not be turning any refugee boats away and was prepared to provide temporary shelter. 

Malaysia is not a signatory to UN Refugee Convention and classifies refugees as illegal immigrants. 

Thailand has also expressed its willingness to receive fleeing refugees. 

The UN launched an investigation into the human rights violations in Myanmar in March. 

See here, here and here

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