Burmese refugees evacuated ahead of expected cyclone

Amid concerns about a possible disaster, thousands of people displaced by communal violence last year have been evacuated from makeshift camps to safer ground ahead of a cyclone expected to hit Burma’s west coast later this week.

A state television report said authorities have moved 5,158 people from low-lying camps in the Rakhine state capital, Sittwe. It said people were also moved in 10 other townships where communal violence flared last year between Muslims and Buddhists, leaving more than 100,000 homeless.

AP