Dhaka: The United Nations (UN) has said some 40 per cent of the total Rohingya population living in Rakhine State have fled to Bangladesh.

The number of Rohingya refugees who have crossed the border from Myanmar into Bangladesh since 25 August has now reached 389,000.

In the last 24 hours alone, 10,000 people reportedly crossed into Bangladesh.

Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the UN Secretary‑General came up with the updates combining with those who fled during the last round of violence in Rakhine State last October.

For its part, UNICEF [United Nations Children’s Fund] says it has trucks filled with emergency water, sanitation and hygiene supplies for thousands of Rohingya children heading to Cox’s Bazar, with a steady stream of supplies in the pipeline for the coming days and weeks.

It is estimated that 60 per cent of Rohingya refugees arriving in Bangladesh are children, said the UN Spokesperson in a press briefing at the UN Headquarters on Thursday.

The sheer number of refugees has overwhelmed pre-existing refugee camps, with new arrivals seeking shelter anywhere they can find space, he said.

UNICEF says that there are acute shortages of everything, most critically shelter, food and clean water, and is also helping the Government of Bangladesh on improving water treatment plants.

UNICEF plans to massively scale up its emergency response to the growing number of Rohingya children in Bangladesh, and has appealed for more than $7 million to provide emergency support over the next four months.