Rohingya camps
Poor host communities fume as Rohingyas start grabbing local labour market
An anger is growing among poor hosts as the Rohingyas, living in Bangladesh’s tourism hub of Cox’s Bazar, are increasingly joining the local labour market, leaving many locals out of their jobs and small businesses.
The host communities claimed that Rohingyas can easily come out from their camps and get engaged in work at the local labour market with their increased presence.
“You need to pay a local labourer Tk 600 a day and you can do the same job engaging a Rohingya with only Tk 200-300. Naturally, the Rohingyas get a preference when someone hires a day-labourer,” one of the locals told UNB, wishing not to be named.
Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar district and Bhasan Char.
The UN is likely to begin its operational activities in Bhasan Char in September if the current negotiation ends with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in August.
Palangkhali UP chairman in Ukhiya upazila M Gafur Uddin Chowdhury said locals are no longer getting desired jobs as Rohingyas are preferred for lower wages. “Even, no one is stopping it… even the Rohingyas are getting involved in small businesses.”
Hamidul Haque Chowdhury who works to protect the interests of locals said the Rohingyas are even working in various NGOs.
Read: Floods, landslides hit Rohingya camps hard: UNHCR
“They also work in various shops and doing household works. I myself saw them doing all this,” he told UNB, adding that Rohingya workers and employees are outnumbering the locals.
Mohammad Shamsu Douza, Additional Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, said they have no such information that the Rohingyas are working in various NGOs.
Nine Rohingya refugees detained in Kurigram
A mobile court in Kurigram detained nine Rohingya refugees on Wednesday night for flouting the Covid-19 lockdown norms.
The refugees have been identified as Faia Salam, 27, Ismail Hossain, 18, Sabika Khatun, 50, Nasim, 15, Riaz, 10, Asmira Khatun, 18, Tasminara Khatun, 7, Rumajan Khatun, 5, and Ismail Hossain, 3.
Read: Floods, landslides hit Rohingya camps hard: UNHCR
All of them are the residents of different Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar, police said.
Alamgir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Bhurungamari Police Station, said during regular patrolling, the mobile court of the local administration intercepted a battery-run three-wheeler carrying 12 people amid the ongoing countrywide lockdown.
While two occupants of the vehicle managed to escape in the dark, the nine others were detained. The remaining person, a Bangladeshi national, was the driver of the vehicle. He was let off with a warning.
Read: Govt to vaccinate Rohingyas gradually starting with above-55s: Foreign Secretary The nine were subsequently handed over to the police after they revealed their identities and claimed that they had plans to sneak into neighbouring India.
"We have initiated the process to send them back to their respective Rohingya camps," the OC said.
Floods, landslides hit Rohingya camps hard: UNHCR
More than 12,000 refugees have been affected, while an estimated 2,500 shelters have been damaged or destroyed by heavy downpours, the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has said.
In the last 24 hours alone, over 300mm of rain fell on camps hosting more than 8 lakh Rohingya refugees – nearly half the monthly rainfall average for July in one day.
Three days of heavy monsoon rains and strong winds pelted massive refugee sites in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar Tuesday, causing flash floods and landslides; the situation is further compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic, the UNHCR said.
More rains are expected in the next few days, with the monsoon season stretching over the next three months, the UN agency added.
Read: Landslide kills 5 at Cox’s Bazar Rohingya camp
There is currently a strict national lockdown in response to rising cases across the country.
In support of the government-led response, the UNHCR's network of emergency response teams have been deployed, to provide immediate support and assistance to affected families and to those forced to temporarily relocate.
Teams are also assessing the damage to shelters and initiating immediate shelter repairs and site improvements.
Refugee volunteers trained by the UNHCR, and partners are also working day and night in heavy rain to help families in urgent need. In some cases, this has involved rescuing refugees from shelters destroyed by landslides.
Read: Govt to vaccinate Rohingyas gradually starting with above-55s: Foreign Secretary
So far, more than 5,000 refugees have temporarily relocated to other family member's shelters or communal facilities.
The adverse weather, latest landslides and floods further exacerbate the suffering and massive humanitarian needs of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
To date, the 2021 Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis in Bangladesh has received only $274 million, roughly 30% of the $943 million required for the response this year.
RRRC urges NGOs to encourage Rohingyas to go to Bhasan Char
Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) Shah Rezwan Hayat has called on NGOs working for refugees to encourage Rohingya refugees to go to Bhasan Char.
He made the call while visiting two Rohingya camps (Camp 21 and 22) at Teknaf upazila in Cox’s Bazar district recently.
During his visit, he went around the Bhaban of the Armed Police Battalion (APBN).
Besides, he planted a sapling of Arabian jasmine flower in the office premises of camp-in-charge.
Shadhona Tripura, in-charge of Camp No. 21, Rahul Chanda, Assistant Secretary of RRRC’s Office in Cox’s Bazar and Executive Magistrate, and others were present during the visit of Shah Rezwan Hayat.
The RRRC exchanged views with BRAC employees at BRAC’s WASH programme office at Camp No. 21 and appreciated different activities taken up under WASH, Shelter and Education Programmes of BRAC.
Also read: IOM ramps up health response as 2nd wave of COVID-19 hits Cox’s Bazar
Addressing the occasion, Shah Rezwan Hayat called upon officials of different NGOs, which are working for Rohingyas, to persuade the refugees, who are now sheltered at different camps in Cox’s Bazar, to go to Bhasan Char.
Shah Rezwan Hayat said more Rohingyas in another phase would be sent to Bhasan Char in September. "The UN High Commissioner on Refugee informed me that he would formally visit Bhasan Char”.
"We have to take effective steps so that none can capture the houses, to be vacated by Rohingyas after going to Bhasan Char. Besides, we have to be careful so that no shelter camp is built again by cutting hills, he said.
Shah Rezwan Hayat called on all concerned to take necessary steps so that the local people (host community) can use the compost, which is made of perishable goods at the refugee camps.
Md. Afsar Ali, Project Manager of WASH Programme under Humanitarian Crisis Management Programme (HCMP) of BRAC; Md. Abdus Salam, Senior Branch Manager of HCMP’s Palongkhali; and others were present on behalf of BRAC.
Also read: Preparedness strengthened ahead of cyclone, monsoon season in Cox's Bazar: IOM
Tanmoy Das, Coordinator of Camp-21 of BRAC, made a brief presentation on WASH programme.
Md. Shamim Ahmed, BRAC’s Camp Assistant Technical (Shelter) Specialist, made another presentation on shelter activities.
Also read: Seven Rohingyas held along Benapole border
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Tahsan visits Cox's Bazar Rohingya camps
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) Goodwill Ambassador Tahsan Khan Sunday visited Cox's Bazar and met with Rohingyas to learn about their experiences on World Refugee Day.
The theme of this year's World Refugee Day is "together we heal, learn and shine." During Tahsan's visit to the Rohingya camps, he also met with Rohingya musicians and filmmakers and performed a song with them.
"These young filmmakers from Omar's Film School and these talented Rohingya musicians are doing incredible work to shine a light on the Rohingya culture and heritage through music, photography and film. They are also working tirelessly to raise awareness about Covid-19 and other health messages," said Tahsan.
Also read: Bhasan Char much better than Cox’s Bazar camps: UNHCR
Bangladesh observes World Refugee Day highlighting refugees' rights
World Refugee Day was observed in the country Sunday to raise awareness on the rights of refugees.
Designed to celebrate and honour refugees from around the world, Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding for the plight of refugees and recognise their resilience in rebuilding their lives.
Also read: Myanmar refugee crisis brewing as turmoil hits economy
With the theme "together we heal, learn and shine," different donors and development organisations held programmes to mark the day.
Humanitarian Crisis Management Programme (HCMP) of Brac hosted programmes at Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar. Young boys and girls took part in the events.
Community Group members of Community-Based Protection of Brac arranged a drawing competition and a henna (mehendi) festival at Camp-4 Extension of Rohingya Shelter Centre in Cox's Bazar Ukhiya.
Also read: Fleeing coup, Myanmar refugees in India seek asylum
Community Group volunteers celebrated the occasion by painting henna on each other's hands.
An exhibition was held at the UN's refugee agency's (UNHCR) Cox's Bazar office in the afternoon to showcase the hand-made goods of Rohingya volunteers of Community-Based Protection of Brac.
12 Rohingyas flee Bhasan Char, but make it only as far as Companiganj
Police detained 12 Rohingyas, including four children, from Noakhali's Companiganj Friday while they were fleeing Bhasan Char of the district's Hatiya.
Locals spotted them at Dakkhiner Ghat of Ward 3 of Char Elahi Union in the morning.
During interrogation, the Rohingyas admitted that they had escaped Bhasan Char on a rented boat at the dead of night Thursday to go to one of the camps in Cox's Bazar, according to locals.
Also read: Govt. urges international community to do more for Rohingyas
On information, Companiganj police went to the spot and brought the 12 Rohingyas to the police station.
Companiganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (Investigation) Md Abul Kalam Azad said, "The detained Rohingyas have been kept in police custody and arrangements are being made to file a case against them."
Since December last year, the government has moved around 20,000 Rohingyas to Bhasan Char and plans to relocate 100,000 refugees to the island.
Also read: 2 Rohingyas killed in landslide at Rohingya camps
Bhasan Char is seen by Dhaka as a solution to the severe overcrowding found in the camps dotting the two southern-most upazilas of Cox's Bazar, itself the country's southern-most district, on the border with Myanmar's Rakhine state.
Dhaka has also consistently denied accusations that some of the refugees may have been moved there under duress, or involuntarily at least.
2 Rohingyas killed in landslide at Rohingya camps
Two Rohingyas were killed on Saturday in landslides following heavy rainfall in Ukhiya and Teknaf in Cox's Bazar.
The deceased have been identified as Rahim Ullah, 35, and Nur Hasina, 20.
The fatal incidents took place at Mainarghona camp in Ukhiya’s Balukhali union and at Chakmarkul camp in Teknaf’s Hoaikong union.
Also read: Lockdown extended in Rohingya camps, Teknaf upazila
The captain of the 14th Armed Police Battalion (APBn) and Superintendent of Police MD Shihab Kayser confirmed the news to UNB.
“Rahim Ullah died in the landslide at around 10:30 am in the morning while he was cutting soil. Upon receiving the news a team of APBn recovered the dead body and handed it over to the concerned authorities,” Kayser said.
Also read: Cyclone Yaas: 25 villages flooded in Hatia, Bhasan Char Rohingya camps not affected
“The house of Nur Hasina was demolished due to a landslide at around 2pm. APBn rescued Hasina and rushed her to a local medical facility where the on-duty doctor declared her dead,” said 16th APBn Additional Superintendent of Police Tariqul Islam.
The dead bodies were handed over to police, who sent them to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy, reported our local correspondent citing APBn sources.
Focusing on repatriation; Bhasan Char temporary plan: Shahriar
State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam on Monday said Bangladesh has been able to establish two things in the Joint Response Plan (JRP) -- focus on Rohingya repatriation as a solution and making sure that Rohingya relocation to Bhasan Char is a temporary arrangement until repatriation takes place.
“We could reestablish two things in this JRP -- one is repatriation while another one is that we didn’t allow it (Bhasan Char) to become a permanent mechanism,” he told a small group of journalists, including the UNB correspondent, at his office.
He said the Bhasan Char issue will be there in the 2021 Joint Response Plan (JRP) but the details will be known after its formal launching tomorrow (Tuesday).
Shahriar said additional funding will be sought once the relocation process at Bhasan Char is completed as the government has a plan to shift 100,000 Rohingyas there from Cox’s Bazar’s congested camps.
So far, around 20,000 Rohingyas have been relocated to Bhasan Char under the government arrangement, said the State Minister.
He said the technical committee and the major contributors of the JRP said positive things about Bhasan Char.
When the UN will formally take up the responsibility of Rohingyas at Bhasan Char, it will further be evaluated how much funding will be required. “The final decision will be given by the UN.”
Shahriar said Bangladesh is focusing on repatriation and Bhasan Char is a temporary arrangement though many tried to make it a permanent mechanism.
“We could reestablish two things in this JRP – one is repatriation while another one is that we didn’t allow it (Bhasan Char) to become a permanent mechanism,” he said.
Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller met State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
They exchanged views on number of global and bilateral issues, including the launching of the annual Joint Response Plan (JRP) for the humanitarian operations for displaced Rohingyas, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the COVID situation and vaccine issue.
“They’re trying so that a senior US official can virtually join the launching event from Washington,” Shahriar said, adding that it is the reflection of US’ continuous support towards Bangladesh on repatriation and rehabilitation of Rohingyas.
The US Ambassador informed that the US would again be the largest contributor to the JRP for Rohingyas, which will be virtually launched and will attended by State Minister Shariar Alam.
He also stated that the US would continue its support to Bangladesh in bearing the burden of the displaced population.
The State Minister emphasised that sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas remains as the priority of Bangladesh, and also emphasised receiving international support for the displaced Rohingyas relocated to Bhashan Char.
The US$943 million plan seeks to meet the needs of more than 880,000 Rohingya refugees and 472,000 Bangladeshis in the surrounding host communities in Cox’s Bazar district.
Most Rohingya refugees, some 740,000, fled violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State in 2017.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has called for renewed international commitment, support and solidarity for Rohingyas ahead of next Tuesday’s donors’ conference.
The 2021 JRP brings together the efforts of the Government of Bangladesh, and 134 UN agencies and NGO partners to target almost 1.4 million people this year, said UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic in Geneva recently.
Jointly co-hosted by the Government of Bangladesh, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNHCR, the virtual 2021 JRP launch event will highlight the most immediate needs and ongoing humanitarian response.
The virtual 2021 JRP launch event is scheduled to run from 10:00am to 12:00 pm CEST Geneva (2:00pm – 4:00pm GMT+6 in Dhaka; 3:00pm – 5:00pm GMT+7 in Bangkok) on Tuesday (May 18). The event will be live streamed.
Last year, the United Nations appealed for more than US$1 billion to meet the needs of the Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar District.
At the end of 2020, this appeal was just 59.4% funded.
"We stress that the international community must not only maintain support for refugees and their hosts, but also adapt to new and emerging needs and pursue the search for durable solutions," said the spokesperson.
More than 880,000 Rohingya refugees and 472,000 Bangladeshis in the surrounding host communities in Cox’s Bazar District are brought under the plan.
Also read: Miller discusses JRP, bilateral issues with Shahriar
Most Rohingya refugees, some 740,000, fled violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State in 2017.
With the refugee crisis in its fourth year, Bangladesh needs robust and sustained international support to ensure the safety and wellbeing of stateless Rohingya refugees, said Mahecic.
This must not become a forgotten crisis. Both Rohingya refugees and Bangladesh, having generously hosted them for decades, must see the world standing with them, said the Spokesperson.
Adding to the complexity of this crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic has compounded vulnerabilities for refugees and host communities alike.
To date, the government of Bangladesh, with the support of the humanitarian community, has effectively managed the Covid-19 response and the spread of the disease in the Rohingya camps and surrounding areas, though the trajectory of the virus remains unpredictable, UNHCR said.
A coordinated and inclusive response has saved lives. However, it is critical to ensure the continued delivery of all humanitarian assistance and protection services.
The needs of Rohingya refugees reach beyond subsistence and physical safety. Refugees, like any other people, cannot be allowed to wait for years without access to education and options for a decent life and a meaningful future.
In order to mitigate the risks of people taking dangerous onward journeys, more must be done to ensure that refugees have hope in Bangladesh, and of a future back home in Myanmar.
Otherwise, they may increasingly risk such journeys by land or sea to find a solution elsewhere.
The search for durable solutions must remain focused on the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingya refugees to their homes in Myanmar, when conditions allow them to do so.
Also read: Ensure women’s participation in all peace initiatives: Shahriar
However, the ongoing crisis and political instability in Myanmar have added new layers of complexity to this challenge.
Rohingyas want to return to Myanmar; happy with Bhasan Char facilities
The Rohingyas, now living in Bhasan Char, on Saturday interacted with the foreign diplomats and expressed their willingness to return to their homeland in Myanmar.
They conveyed their "high satisfaction" over the existing facilities in Bhasan Char, which they considered safe, secured crime-free compared to the congested camps in Cox’s Bazar.
The Rohingyas profusely thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Government of Bangladesh for the exemplary humanitarian support that have been extended to them since the mass exodus.
“I want my children to grow with their own national identity in their own country,” a Rohingya representative was quoted as conveying to the diplomats who visited Bhasan Char on Saturday.
Some Rohingyas underscored the need to expand learning facilities for children and provide them opportunities for farming and fishing which would help in keeping them active.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organised the day-long trip to Bhasan Char for the Heads of Missions of 10 Embassies/delegation - Turkey, the European Union (EU), the United States of America (USA), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Germany, Japan, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands.
Foreign Secretary (Senior Secretary) Masud Bin Momen, Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Md. Mohsin, Secretary Maritime Affairs Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rear Admiral (Retd.) Md. Khurshed Alam, RRRC Shah Rezwan Hayat and other senior officials of the Government accompanied the team.