Rohingya Refugees in Cox's Bazar 🇧🇩

01/12/18 09:43

December 2016: Humanitarian Mission to Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

In December 2016, I travelled to Cox’s Bazar, a coastal region in the southern part of Bangladesh, near the border with Myanmar. My visit focused on the largest refugee camp in the world at the time, primarily hosting Rohingya people who had fled violence and persecution in Myanmar. The mission was an eye-opening experience, as I had the opportunity to witness the scale of the crisis and the tireless efforts of humanitarian organisations striving to provide relief to the displaced populations.

The Rohingya Crisis: A Humanitarian Catastrophe

The Rohingya people, a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority in Myanmar, have faced decades of persecution and discrimination. Despite having lived in Myanmar’s Rakhine State for generations, they have been systematically denied citizenship, rendering them stateless. The situation dramatically worsened in 2016 and 2017, following violent crackdowns by the Myanmar military, which led to mass killings, sexual violence, and the destruction of Rohingya villages. The resulting exodus forced hundreds of thousands to flee across the border into Bangladesh, seeking safety and refuge.

Bangladesh, despite its limited resources, opened its borders to provide shelter to the fleeing Rohingya, resulting in the establishment of mega-camps in the Cox’s Bazar region. The sheer scale of displacement posed immense challenges for the humanitarian community, requiring an urgent and comprehensive response to address basic needs, security concerns, and long-term solutions.

Cox’s Bazar Refugee Camps: A Complex Humanitarian Response

By the time of my visit in 2016, the Cox’s Bazar region had already become a sprawling settlement, with the Kutupalong refugee camp at its heart. Initially designed as a temporary measure, the camp rapidly expanded, growing into an overcrowded and under-resourced urban settlement.

Some of the major challenges observed during my visit included:
• Overcrowding and Shelter Needs:
With hundreds of thousands of refugees crammed into a small area, shelters made of bamboo and tarpaulins were densely packed, offering little protection from the elements, particularly during the monsoon season.
• Food Insecurity:
While organisations like the World Food Programme (WFP) provided food distributions, the sheer number of people meant that ensuring adequate and nutritious food was a constant struggle. Malnutrition rates among children and pregnant women were alarmingly high.
• Health and Sanitation Issues:
Access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services was crucial to prevent the outbreak of waterborne diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea. The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society and other NGOs worked tirelessly to establish boreholes, latrines, and hygiene promotion initiatives. However, the sanitation infrastructure was under immense pressure, with many families having limited access to clean facilities.
• Protection and Security Concerns:
Rohingya refugees, particularly women and children, were vulnerable to exploitation, gender-based violence (GBV), and human trafficking. Protection services were provided by organisations such as UNHCR and Danish Refugee Council (DRC), offering psychosocial support and legal assistance, but the needs were overwhelming.
• Education in Emergencies:
With thousands of children unable to access formal education, efforts were made to provide informal schooling and safe spaces for children through NGOs and UNICEF, helping to restore a sense of normalcy amid the crisis.

Humanitarian Response Efforts

During my mission, I had the opportunity to engage with humanitarian partners from the NGOs, Red Crescent, and UN agencies, all working together to provide comprehensive assistance to the refugees. The collaborative efforts focused on:
1. Emergency Shelter and NFIs (Non-Food Items):
• Providing temporary shelters and essential items like blankets, cooking utensils, and clothing.
2. WASH Interventions:
• Installing latrines, water tanks, and handwashing stations to prevent disease outbreaks.
3. Health Services:
• Establishing field clinics and mobile medical units to cater to the health needs of the refugees, including vaccinations and maternal health support.
4. Livelihood and Skills Training:
• Efforts were made to provide vocational training to help refugees gain skills that could support their long-term self-sufficiency.
5. Protection and Legal Support:
• Addressing gender-based violence, child protection, and legal documentation issues to ensure the safety and dignity of the Rohingya.

Reflections on the Visit

Visiting the Cox’s Bazar refugee camps was an incredibly emotional and eye-opening experience. Seeing the resilience of the Rohingya refugees, despite the unimaginable hardships they had endured, was both humbling and inspiring. The humanitarian response was impressive but also highlighted the immense challenges of responding to such a protracted crisis, requiring sustained international support, political engagement, and long-term solutions.

The visit reinforced my belief in the importance of humanitarian work and the collective responsibility of the international community to support displaced populations, uphold human dignity, and advocate for lasting solutions to forced displacement.

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Rohingya Refugees in Cox's Bazar 🇧🇩