Myanmar to resettle 6,000 stranded Rohingya

Myanmar on Tuesday agreed with Bangladesh to resettle more than 6,000 Rohingya Muslims stranded between the two countries since the Myanmar military began clearance operations in August. The unrest has sent about 700,000 Rohingya fleeing Myanmar, also known as Burma, into Bangladesh, but thousands of others remain at the Tombru border crossing. Bangladesh Relief and Refugee Commissioner Abul Kalam confirmed Myanmar would settle the refugees and noted the process must be voluntary. “The refugees told us they want to go back and get settled in their homes,” Kalam said. “We pressed the Myanmar authorities to create a congenial and safe atmosphere to resettle them.” The two countries had planned to begin repatriating some of the Rohingya who sought shelter in refugee camps in Bangladesh, but aid workers raised concerns that Myanmar had yet to improve the living conditions for the Rohingya.