The Myanmar government has allowed senior foreign diplomats to enter Maungdaw, Rakhine State, after they requested access to the troubled area.
Diplomats from the US, China, the UK, the EU and the UN will travel by helicopter to the Rohingya-majority area, which the Tatmadaw has designated a military operation zone. However, their itinerary has not been released.
The Rohingya-majority area has been closed off to observers and aid workers for more than three weeks following a series of coordinated attacks on border checkpoints on October 9, in which nine police officers were killed.
Since the attacks, Tatmadaw troops have swarmed the area in search of the attackers, who are alleged to be Rohingya Muslims. At least 33 alleged attackers and five Tatmadaw troops have been killed in the ensuing conflict, according to DVB.
Villagers in Maungdaw Township have reported summary executions, rape and arson at the hands of Tatmadaw troops, though the Myanmar government denies these allegations and has resisted international pressure to investigate the alleged human rights abuses.
