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A senior international ministry official mentioned the refugees had been being moved as a result of there was little prospect of repatriating them to Myanmar.
Bangladeshi officers mentioned the primary 400 of two,500 refugees would go away on Thursday night, relying on the tide. The journey takes a number of hours.
Greater than 730,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar in 2017 following a military-led crackdown that the United Nations has mentioned was executed with genocidal intent. Myanmar denies genocide and says its forces had been concentrating on Rohingya militants who attacked police posts.
A senior Bangladeshi official has mentioned housing was constructed for 100,000 individuals on the island and authorities need to relocate them throughout the November to April dry season when the ocean is calm.
The United Nations mentioned in an announcement it had been given “restricted data” in regards to the relocations and was not concerned in preparations.
Omar Faruq, one Rohingya chief who had been on a authorities journey, mentioned the island was “actually stunning,” with higher amenities than within the refugee camps and that he can be able to go, however that most individuals didn’t need to go there.
“We don’t need to find yourself residing an remoted prison-like life,” mentioned Nurul Amin, one Rohingya refugee who was not on the record.
Greater than 300 refugees had been dropped at the island earlier this yr after a number of months at sea in an try and flee Bangladesh. Rights teams say they’re being held in opposition to their will and have complained of human rights violations. (Writing by Matthew Tostevin; Modifying by Michael Perry)