Arakan News Agency
Rohingya refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar are set to settle in Bangladesh on the verge of a major humanitarian crisis in February or March.
A delegation of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) pointed out the dangers faced by the Muslim refugees fleeing the abuses committed in Myanmar, the extent of the suffering of more than one million refugees living in Bangladesh.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh hosted the delegation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and its permanent and independent human rights body, which visited the country on 3rd to 7th January, and briefed them on the situation in the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh.
The delegation also visited some refugee camps to obtain first-hand information from the Rohingya refugees, who are described as “the most oppressed minority in the world”.
During the delegation’s field visits to the refugee camp in the Coxs-Bazar region, the Deputy Commissioner of the Region briefed the members of the joint delegation on the humanitarian situation inside the camp and its needs. The Deputy Commissioner stated that there were a total of 12 camps in the same place, which were deployed along the border with Myanmar, covering a distance of 217 kilometers.
The Deputy Commissioner regretted that the influx of refugees continued to escalate and that people were trying to flee in search of their safety and better living conditions. He noted that the Government of Bangladesh was struggling to bring all the refugees into one camp so as to facilitate their management and follow-up.
Despite the efforts of the Government of Bangladesh and the donor agencies to provide care to the refugees, improvements and more assistance are needed, especially in the areas of shelter, food, sanitation and health, especially with the expected floods and the rainy season.
He also said that more than 7,700 children have lost their parents, their mothers and their families and have no dependents. During the visit, the delegation noted that many refugees continued to suffer from psychological stress and most of them did not wish to return to Myanmar unless they were granted full citizenship rights.
Satisfaction was evident among humanitarian relief organizations over the Bangladesh government’s aid to the refugees. The parties concerned urged the OIC and its Member States to provide more support in various forms in order to alleviate the suffering of those who had left their homeland with very painful memories and psychological trauma.
The delegation traveled by road to the Baluchali camps where it had direct contact with the victims and the authorities responsible for running the camp as well as with the staff of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
