An independent U.N. expert on Monday expressed alarm at the deteriorating human-rights situation in Myanmar's Rakhine state, adding that the evacuation of aid workers following recent attacks on the humanitarian community would have severe consequences for life-saving work in the area. "Recent developments in Rakhine state are the latest in a long history of discrimination and persecution against the Rohingya community, which could amount to crimes against humanity," said special rapporteur for human rights in Myanmar Tomas Ojea Quintana. Ojea Quintana warned that the evacuation of aid workers, following the recent attacks on U.N. and non-governmental organization (NGO) buildings in the state capital, Sittwe, "will only increase the vulnerability of this community." The U.N. expert warned that the availability of water could reach critical levels within a week in some displacement camps, particularly in Pauktaw. The impact on healthcare will be particularly severe for the 140,000 people still in such camps in Rakhine and the 700,000 vulnerable people outside the camps, he said.
