Cyclone Threatens Rohingya Refugees in Myanmar/ Burma: 80 Dead at Sea

Juan Cole 05/16/2013

The Rohingya Muslim refugees in Myanmar [Burma], having been menaced by hatred of foreigners and Buddhist chauvinism, are now threatened by a powerful cyclone. Monday some 80 died as boats capsized, in which they were attempting to flee the storm. Others are insisting on staying put, in flimsy tents, despite UN urging that they evacuate.

AFP has a video report:

A Rohingya blog is here

About the Author

Juan Cole is the founder and chief editor of Informed Comment. He is Richard P. Mitchell Professor of History at the University of Michigan He is author of, among many other books, Muhammad: Prophet of Peace amid the Clash of Empires and The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. Follow him on Twitter at @jricole or the Informed Comment Facebook Page