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20.08.2019 | Project Update

Two years on: Rohingya deserve justice, a place at the table

61 NGOs warn of worsening crisis in Myanmar; call for refugees’ engagement on safe, voluntary returns

Mitglieder der Rohingya im Flüchtlingscamp Hakimpara in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesch.
Mitglieder der Rohingya im Flüchtlingscamp Hakimpara in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesch. © Daniel Pilar

Two years after mass atrocities in Myanmar forced more than 740,000 people to flee for their lives, the Government and the people of Bangladesh continue to generously host nearly 1 million Rohingya refugees. While UN agencies and over 130 local, national, and international NGOs have supported the Government of Bangladesh to provide life-sustaining assistance, refugees require much more than basic support for survival; they need their rights, security and dignity. Many long to return but fear further violence and persecution back home.  

Refugees report feeling fearful and anxious following recent reports about possible expedited repatriation to Myanmar in the current conditions which do not guarantee their safety and rights. Current levels of engagement do not afford them their right to make informed decisions about their future, including voluntary return.  

Worsening Conditions in Rakhine State (Myanmar)

Welthungerhilfe staff member Jessica Kühnle visited different refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, amongst them "mega camp" Bhalu Khali.

Discriminatory policies in Myanmar mean that Rohingya communities in Rakhine State continue to face severe movement restrictions, as well as limited access to education, healthcare, and livelihoods opportunities. Some 128,000 displaced Rohingya and other Muslim communities have remained trapped in confined camps in central Rakhine State since 2012, unable to return home. 

Since April 2017, the Government of Myanmar has taken initial steps towards the “closure” of some of these camps for internally displaced people in Rakhine State. New structures have been built on or next to existing sites, but there has been no meaningful progress on freedom of movement or human rights. Consultation with displaced communities is limited, and they remain unable to return to their original communities or another location of choice. Achieving durable solutions requires that the Myanmar government address the fundamental issues of equal rights and ensure that all communities in Rakhine State can live in safety, access basic services and pursue livelihoods opportunities.  

The conditions in Myanmar are not conducive to the Rohingya refugees’ return at this time. As a recent report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute found, not only have preparations for return been minimal, but authorities continue to raze Rohingya villages to make room for military bases and potential repatriation camps. The recent upsurge in violence has worsened the already precarious humanitarian situation in central and northern Rakhine State.   

A woman in Hakimpara refugee camp in Bangladesh with a sack full of fuel. Local NGO FIVDB distributes charcoal and rice husk pellets to Rohingya refugees. © Daniel Pilar/Welthungerhilfe
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Rohingya at a fuel distribution in camp Hakimpara, Bangladesh, August 2018. © Daniel Pilar/Welthungerhilfe
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A man is carrying a bag filled with fuel in camp Hakimpara, Bangladesh, August 2018. Local NGO FIVDB distributes charcoal and rice husk pellets. © Daniel Pilar/Welthungerhilfe
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Mostafa B. is cooking a meal in camp Hakimpara, Bangladesh. The cooking place was provided by Welthungerhilfe's local partner NGO. August 2018. © Daniel Pilar/Welthungerhilfe
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A boy in camp Hakimpara in Bangladesh in August 2018. More than 700,000 Rohingya have fled the violence in their home country of Myanmar. © Daniel Pilar/Welthungerhilfe
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Rohingya children in Leda refugee camp in August 2018. © Daniel Pilar/Welthungerhilfe
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Camp Hakimpara for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, August 2018. © Daniel Pilar/Welthungerhilfe
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Rohingya refugees are carrying sacks from an aid distribution in camp Hakimpara in Bangladesh, August 2018. © Daniel Pilar/Welthungerhilfe
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Rice paddies in Rohingya refugee camp Hakimpara, Bangladesh, August 2018. © Daniel Pilar/Welthungerhilfe
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Children in camp Leda for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh (August 2018). © Daniel Pilar/Welthungerhilfe
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Hakimpara refugee camp in Bangladesh: Local NGO FIVDB distributes sacks with charcoal and rice husk pellets to Rohingya refugees (August 2018). © Daniel Pilar/Welthungerhilfe
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Hakimpara refugee camp in Bangladesh: Local NGO FIVDB distributes sacks with charcoal and rice husk pellets to Rohingya refugees (August 2018). © Daniel Pilar/Welthungerhilfe
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Striving for Dignity in Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh)

Dirty water, the rainy season, and a lack of latrines mean that many of the Rohingya who fled to Bangladesh now face the threat of illness.

For the past two years, Rohingya refugees have remained dependent on humanitarian aid in the camps in Cox’s Bazar. The collective efforts of the humanitarian community under the leadership of the Government of Bangladesh have improved camp conditions, strengthened monsoon preparedness and helped prevent disease outbreaks.  

Yet, living conditions in the camps remain dire, with growing concerns about safety and security. Gender-based violence and restricted freedom of movement increase the risks faced by refugee women and girls. Persons with disabilities and serious medical conditions experience barriers in accessing essential services. With shrinking funds1 and continued restrictions on refugees’ access to education and livelihoods, the crisis is likely to worsen. 

The Government of Bangladesh and generous residents of Teknaf and Ukhiya Upazilas in Cox’s Bazar were the first responders when refugees arrived in Bangladesh in August 2017. Today, some 500,000 Bangladeshis living near the camps continue to bear the socio-economic and environmental impact of the influx, amidst growing tensions with refugees over limited resources and services.  

The international community must respond and stand beside Bangladesh to deliver a well-funded response that will improve living conditions and allow refugees and host communities to live in dignity. 

NGOs in Bangladesh and Myanmar committed to providing assistance, but call for critical action by all parties

In response to the current crisis, we, the undersigned national and international organizations in Bangladesh and Myanmar, remain committed to providing assistance and protecting the rights of refugees, stateless, internally displaced persons and host communities until appropriate solutions to their displacement within and outside Myanmar are identified, including safe and voluntary repatriation. We urge all parties to:  

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