By Fatih Erel
GENEVA (AA) - The UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar will be visiting Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka and Cox Bazar refugee camps on June 29-July 8.
"[Yanghee] Lee regrets that the Government of Myanmar continues to deny her access despite the call by the UN Human Rights Council for Myanmar to cooperate with her mandate," the UN said in a statement on Thursday.
"She is determined to reach out as much as possible to victims of human rights abuses in Myanmar who are located elsewhere and other locations in order to learn more about their experience to understand better the human rights situation in Myanmar," the UN said.
Following her visit to Bangladesh, she would issue a statement and share her findings when she would present a report to the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly in October 2018.
Since Aug. 25, 2017, more than 750,000 refugees, mostly children and women, have fled Myanmar and crossed into Bangladesh after Myanmar forces launched a crackdown on the minority Muslim community, according to Amnesty International.
At least 9,400 Rohingya were killed in Rakhine from Aug. 25 to Sept. 24 last year, according to Doctors Without Borders.
In a report published recently, the humanitarian group said the deaths of 71.7 percent or 6,700 Rohingya were caused by violence. They include 730 children below the age of 5.
The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.
The UN documented mass gang rapes, killings -- including of infants and young children -- brutal beatings, and disappearances committed by security personnel.
In a report, UN investigators said such violations may have constituted crimes against humanity.