In Pics: Satellite Images Reveal Destruction in Rohingya Villages

An ethnic Rohingya holds a banner during protest after Friday prayers outside the Myanmar Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo: AP)

High-definition satellite images show 820 newly identified structures destroyed this month in five Rohingya Muslim villages in Myanmar's troubled Rakhine state where the military is carrying out counter-insurgency operations, a human rights group said on Monday.

An US-based Human Rights Watch urged the government to invite the United Nations to assist in an impartial investigation.

This combination of two satellite images taken by DigitalGlobe and released by Human Rights Watch on 21 November 2015, illustrates before in 2014, top, and after the building destruction on 10 November 2016, bottom, in the village of Wa Peik, Maungdaw District, Myanmar. (Photo: AP)

"These alarming new satellite images confirm that the destruction in Rohingya villages is far greater and in more places than the government has admitted," said Brad Adams, the Asia director for the group.

The president's spokesman, Zaw Htay, last week accused Human Rights Watch of exaggeration after the release of an initial set of satellite imagery that showed 430 destroyed buildings in three villages.

This 2014 satellite image illustrates the building’s pre-destruction in the village of Wa Peik, Maungdaw District, Myanmar. (Photo: AP)

He accused the international media of misreporting the situation in Rakhine, where the government has mounted a massive security operation since nine police officers were killed by unidentified assailants who attacked guard posts in Maungdaw village bordering Bangladesh last month.

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The government has acknowledged using helicopter gunships in support of ground troops in the operations.

It has implied that the attacks were carried out by sympathizers of the minority Rohingya, who face intense discrimination, repression and violence in Rakhine state.

Satellite image of 21 November 2016 shows the building destruction in the village of Wa Peik, Maungdaw District, Myanmar.(Photo: AP)

They have frequently been targeted by the Buddhist Rakhine majority, who view them as illegal migrants. The state denies them citizenship even though they have lived in the region for generations. More than 100,000 Rohingya still live in camps after being driven from their homes following clashes with the Rakhine people in 2012.

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Human Rights Watch said the new satellite imagery — recorded on 10 November and 17-18 November — brings to 1,250 the number of destroyed buildings documented by it.

"Instead of responding with military-era style accusations and denials, the government should simply look at the facts and take action to protect all people in Burma, whatever their religion or ethnicity," Adams said.

Satellite image on 21 November 2016 illustrates the building destruction in the village of Kyet Yoe Pyin, Maungdaw District Myanmar. (Photo: AP)

Ko Ko Linn, an activist of Arakan Rohingya National Organization, said more than 100 people have been killed, at least 1,000 houses in Maungdaw have been burned and hundreds have been arrested.

A Rohingya villager says the government is trying to systematically to drive Muslims minority from their villages.

On Friday, the United Nations warned of a worsening rights situation in Rakhine state. Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes amid the security operation.