By Dhaka Tribune

An estimated 669 children have reportedly been killed and another 39 maimed in Myanmar – the majority of them Rohingyas – in the last 14 months, says the UN.

“These findings are in line with what other UN bodies have found, confirming killing, maiming, and rape,” UN Secretary‑General’s Spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York, reports UNB.

Dujarric came up with the data flagging a new report by the Secretary‑General on Children and Armed Conflict that has found that boys and girls in Myanmar have suffered patterns of grave violations following the start of the crisis in northern Rakhine in August of last year.

The latest report released on Friday contained data from the 14‑month reporting period.

Dujarric said Myanmar’s armed forces have already been listed on the Secretary‑General’s Annual Report from last year.

Replying to a question on the Rohingya crisis, he said they are continuing to provide as much humanitarian support as they can.

“The Bangladeshis, I think, have been extremely generous in welcoming close to one million people since August 2017, which is truly a herculean effort,” he said.

Dujarric said Bangladeshis have welcomed Rohingyas in what is already an impoverished part of a country that is facing its own development challenges.

“Our principled stance that refugees should not be forcibly returned and should only return in dignity to their place of choosing continues,” he added.

Responding to another question, the spokesperson said from their part, there is the fact‑finding mission put forward by the UN Human Rights Council, and as for the International Criminal Court, that is a question targeted to them.