UN 'begins evacuation' from unrest-hit Myanmar state
June 11, 2012  14:33

The United Nations today said it had begun evacuating staff from its base in western Myanmar where fierce sectarian unrest has seen deadly clashes between Muslims and Buddhists. Ashok Nigam, UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Yangon, said roughly 44 workers and their families were leaving Maungdaw in troubled Rakhine state, which borders Bangladesh.

 

"It is most of the international staff but local staff based in Maungdaw will still be there," he said, adding the voluntary measure was "temporary" and "because of the insecurity and disturbance". A first group left Maungdaw yesterday followed by a second group today.

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