International aid groups in Myanmar have urged the government to allow free access to Rakhine State, where an army offensive has sent 480,000 people fleeing to Bangladesh but hundreds of thousands remain cut off from food, shelter and medical care.<br/><br/>The latest army campaign in the western state was launched in response to attacks by Rohingya Muslim insurgents on security posts near the Bangladesh border on August 25.<br/><br/>The government has stopped international non-government groups (INGOs), as well as UN agencies, from working in the north of the state, citing insecurity.<br/><br/>INGOs in Myanmar are increasingly concerned about severe restrictions on humanitarian access and impediments to the delivery of critically needed humanitarian assistance throughout Rakhine State, aid groups said in a statement late yesterday.<br/><br/>An unknown number of people are internally displaced, while hundreds of thousands lack food, shelter and medical services, said the groups, which include Care International, Oxfam and Save the Children.<br/><br/>The United States said the army response to the insurgent attacks was "disproportionate" and the crisis raised questions about Myanmar's transition to democracy after decades of military rule.<br/><br/>The international community has called for unfettered humanitarian access to the area and for refugees to be allowed to return safely.

International aid groups in Myanmar have urged the government to allow free access to Rakhine State, where an army offensive has sent 480,000 people fleeing to Bangladesh but hundreds of thousands remain cut off from food, shelter and medical care.<br/><br/>The latest army campaign in the western state was launched in response to attacks by Rohingya Muslim insurgents on security posts near the Bangladesh border on August 25.<br/><br/>The government has stopped international non-government groups (INGOs), as well as UN agencies, from working in the north of the state, citing insecurity.<br/><br/>INGOs in Myanmar are increasingly concerned about severe restrictions on humanitarian access and impediments to the delivery of critically needed humanitarian assistance throughout Rakhine State, aid groups said in a statement late yesterday.<br/><br/>An unknown number of people are internally displaced, while hundreds of thousands lack food, shelter and medical services, said the groups, which include Care International, Oxfam and Save the Children.<br/><br/>The United States said the army response to the insurgent attacks was "disproportionate" and the crisis raised questions about Myanmar's transition to democracy after decades of military rule.<br/><br/>The international community has called for unfettered humanitarian access to the area and for refugees to be allowed to return safely.