Rohingya Refugee Crisis

The conditions in the camp are not always the safest, despite the large presence of humanitarian aid organizations on the ground. In the first two weeks of 2022, there were two large fires, one that burned quickly through a COVID-19 treatment center run by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Jan. 2, and a second one that burned through what is known as Camp 16 on Jan. 9. While there were only minor injuries in the Camp 16 fire and no deaths reported in either fire, they demonstrate the challenges of living and caring for people in an area where “the only temporary shelters that are allowed in the camps in Bangladesh are those made of highly flammable bamboo and tarpaulin.” The fire on Jan. 9 reportedly destroyed 600 shelters and left 3,600 Rohingya refugees homeless.

There were also a series of fires in the camps in 2021, leading to fears that the government is trying to push residents to leave. A fire on Jan. 14, 2021 gutted the Nayapara refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, destroying 550 shelters and 150 shops and leaving approximately 3,500 people homeless. On March 22, 2021, a large fire swept through the Balukhali camp before spreading to two other camps, consuming 500 acres and destroying 10,000 encampments. At least 45,000 people became homeless, along with nearly 600 injured and 15 killed. Aid workers and refugees alike blamed barbed wire in the camps for preventing people from fleeing quickly. A briefing note from March 2021, shows how the March fires impacted the camps and the refugees within them. A fire on April 2 killed three people and destroyed about 20 shops in a makeshift market near Kutapalong.

Massive flooding from heavy monsoon rains at the end of July 2021 led to landslides and the deaths of at least 14 people (including local villagers and Rohingya). At least 13,000 Rohingya refugees have been affected with more than 10,000 being moved to safer locations. The UN reports that at least 2,500 shelters were damaged or destroyed.

The temporary settlements in Cox’s Bazar were put up very quickly, leading to concerns about WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), shelter, and safety for women and girls. The limited WASH facilities have also contributed to concerns about COVID-19 spreading within the settlements. The tight spaces, accompanied by the lack of access to basic services, especially healthcare, leave those residing in Cox’s Bazar especially vulnerable to the virus. As a result of these concerns, Bangladesh imposed a complete lockdown on Cox’s Bazar with only critical aid and healthcare staff being allowed to enter and exit the area, which was only lifted in August 2021.

The first case of COVID-19 in Cox’s Bazar was confirmed on May 15, 2020, with the first death confirmed on May 30, 2020. As of Sept. 19, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that there have been 3,026 confirmed cases and 32 deaths in the camps. While there are some concentrations of cases, no camp holds a majority and deaths are spread throughout the camps. One-third of these cases occurred in July and August alone (over 1,000 cases and 10 deaths).

On Aug. 10, 2021, a massive vaccination campaign began with more than 4,000 refugees getting vaccinated in the first few days. In total, 36,900 refugees were vaccinated: 86% of the target goal. The WHO had previously reported that the vaccination campaign would be aimed at Rohingya refugees over 55 years, starting with community leaders over 55 years, followed by all persons over 55 years in the Rohingya camps. The second round of vaccinations started Sept. 18, 2021.

In addition to the toll COVID-19 is taking on the physical health of Rohingya refugees, the increased restrictions on aid and aid workers have also reduced the amount of mental health support available to these displaced people. Bangladesh has nearly 1.6 million COVID-19 cases and just over 28,000 deaths. Despite the challenges of living and working in temporary encampments, aid organizations are finding ways to enable Rohingya refugees to be self-sufficient. The first small-scale harvest of locally-grown mushrooms was accomplished at the end of 2021, and the World Food Programme (WFP) along with the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) helped provide almost 6,000 refugees with the necessary inputs to start their own local agricultural production.

Hopes for the repatriation of the Rohingya to their traditional lands rose with the re-election of the National League for Democracy (NLD) during November 2020 elections. Many countries and organizations around the world pushed Myanmar’s state counselor and leader of the NLD, Aung Suu Kyi, to repatriate the Rohingya in circumstances that will allow them to thrive. However, on Feb.1, 2021, there was a military coup d’état and both Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, along with other NLD leaders, were detained by the Tatmawdaw (the official name of the armed forces). Leaders around the world strongly condemned the coup and warned of tougher sanctions and fears of outright civil war. At least 10,000 refugees have fled Myanmar since the coup, although not all ended up in Bangladesh. Several human rights officials have asked President Biden to condemn the Tatmawdaw for their previous actions and hold them accountable for genocide. Suu Kyi has been convicted twice since her arrest and sentenced (so far) to six years in jail, with additional charges pending against her.

A new parallel government has been formed that includes some members of the NLD. The National Unity Group (NUG) recently announced broad changes in an effort to bring the Rohingya on to their side. In a statement, the NUG said they, “would scrap a 1982 citizenship law that denies Rohingya citizenship, and which has effectively rendered them one of the largest stateless populations in the world. Citizenship would instead be based on birth in Myanmar, or birth anywhere to a Myanmar citizen … The NUG, which was set up after the military coup, also said it was committed to the safe repatriation of Rohingya who have been forced to flee military violence, and promised to ‘actively seek justice and accountability for all crimes committed by the military against the Rohingya’.”