Imagine
being trapped in one of those villages, knowing what is happening to
village after village after village, knowing children have been
slaughtered, women have been raped and often killed, and men have been
shot. The desperation is enormous. I heard firsthand accounts of conditions of refugees from Reza Uddin,
who had just returned from a 2-week trip to visit them. He told
powerful and moving stories about children who had been brutalized,
children who had been separated from their parents, children who might
possibly now be orphans because it is not clear if their parents are
still alive or, if alive, where they are. The world collectively has not done enough. The community of nations
has not done enough to address this unspeakable brutality. Bangladesh
should be complimented for accepting these refugees fleeing for their
lives. They have been cooperative. It is a challenge for them, and we
should acknowledge that. We should continue to ask them to do
everything possible and to give the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees
and various aid organizations full opportunity, full access, and full
authority to be in and assist those in these refugee camps. The United States, the United Kingdom, and the United Nations have
condemned the actions of the Burmese, and that is certainly
appropriate, but we haven't done enough. We have not taken the steps to
which my colleague referred to strengthen sanctions or coordinate
international countries to all weigh in.
Keywords matched
refugee Refugees refugees