November 5th, 2012
05:29 AM ET

Aid group warns of difficulties treating victims of Myanmar violence

The aid organization Doctors Without Borders has warned that its workers on the ground in western Myanmar are finding it harder and harder to treat victims of recent violence that has inflamed tensions between Buddhist and Muslim communities in the region.

Clashes between the two communities in Myanmar's Rakhine state have killed 89 people and displaced more than 35,000 others in recent weeks, the United Nations said in its most recent report on the situation, citing government figures.

"Ongoing animosity" in the area, some of it directed at aid groups, "makes it increasingly difficult to support the Ministry of Health to run already overstretched clinics and reach out to newly displaced communities," Doctors Without Borders said in a statement.

Rights groups have said that the Rohingya, an ethnic Muslim people who live in Rakhine but aren't recognized as citizens by Myanmar authorities, are bearing the brunt of the violence.

"That we are prevented from acting and threatened for wanting to deliver medical aid to those in need is shocking and leaves tens of thousands without the medical care they urgently need," said Joe Belliveau, the operations manager of Doctors Without Borders.

Read the CNN story from last week about the violence in Rakhine here.

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Filed under: Islam • Myanmar • Religion
soundoff (9 Responses)
  1. Abraham

    Me too. I'm wise too. I know about stuff.

    November 5, 2012 at 8:24 am | Report abuse |
  2. jeff

    This is the country the Hillary praised so highly, like she did in Libya. She is a disgrace for America and to her office.

    November 5, 2012 at 9:32 am | Report abuse |
    • steve

      she praised the government for making reforms and free elections. this conflict has nothing to do with the government.

      November 5, 2012 at 4:55 pm | Report abuse |
    • MM

      Those people from pictures, they only look for donars to come, they do not work, they will pretend like they are in hunger. and those Aid Organization staff, they will put up story via media ..otherwise Aid workers will loose their job. Aid workers,,, always want to make big stories to earn their salary .. everyone who work with Aid Organization know this story.

      November 5, 2012 at 8:19 pm | Report abuse |
  3. kerry

    Doctors Without Borders are brave and noble souls.

    November 5, 2012 at 10:05 am | Report abuse |
  4. Anders Behring Breivik (King of the Island)

    Are you sure these pictures weren't taken in New Jersey?

    November 5, 2012 at 10:45 am | Report abuse |
  5. banasy©

    Obviously not dazzle.
    She treats sick people, not agrees with them.

    November 5, 2012 at 11:12 am | Report abuse |
  6. hansdunkelberg

    Perhaps they are going to be taken more seriously if they think of a more earnest name. "without borders" sounds all-too romantic.

    November 5, 2012 at 11:46 am | Report abuse |
  7. J

    This is how islam wins....

    The civilized western countries are too civilized and just don't 'get it'.

    Whilst they write angry letters, the rules don't apply yo these lunatic jiahdist, q'uran abiding maniacs. Because the rules ar efrom the q'uran.

    November 5, 2012 at 3:40 pm | Report abuse |
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