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UN envoy raises alarm on abuses against Rohingya

YANGON, Myanmar — Severe shortages of food, water, and medical care for Rohingya Muslims in western Myanmar are part of a long history of persecution against the religious minority that could amount to ‘‘crimes against humanity,’’ a UN human rights envoy said, an allegation denied by the government.

The statements follow the en masse evacuation of international aid workers from the strife-torn state of Rakhine after their residences and offices were attacked by rampaging Buddhist mobs two weeks ago.

The workers were providing assistance to 140,000 Rohingya living in crowded displacement camps near the city of Sittwe and more than 700,000 other vulnerable people in remote, hard-to-reach villages. Some have tried to go back, but have been denied necessary permits.

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‘‘The recent developments are the latest in a long history of discrimination and persecution against the Rohingya community, which could amount to crimes against humanity,’’ Tomas Ojea Quintana, the UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in the country, said in a statement released Monday out of Geneva. Aid workers need to return, and quickly, he said, so they could ‘‘resume their lifesaving work.’’

Ye Htut, the presidential spokesman, denied the allegations. ‘‘We totally reject his remark,’’ he said.

Associated Press