Arakan News Agency
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has begun building 14,000 tents to house the Rohingya Muslims fleeing the Myanmar army’s violence against them in Arakan province.
The Bangladeshi government has decided to complete the construction of 14,000 shelters to accommodate 400,000 Rohingya refugees who have arrived in the country since 25th August. The Bangladesh Army will be involved in this process.
According to informed sources, the Bangladesh Army will transport the relief materials sent from various countries and international organizations from the rest of the country to the office of Deputy Commissioner in Cox-bazar.
A coordination meeting (last Sunday) was held under the chairmanship of Commissioner of Cox Bazar with the relevant officials. At the meeting, it was decided that all Rohingya would be transferred to a single camp in Balukhali, with the necessary relief and health supplies. Two United Nations organizations, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, are involved in this process.
The construction of the shelter tents is part of the Government’s plan to establish a huge camp on an area of about 8 million square meters (800 hectares) next to the Kutupalong camp in the border area of Cox-bazar.
“The United Nations will provide the necessary assistance to ensure the construction of new tents, which will provide appropriate health facilities, and other water and medical assistance.”
“The Bangladeshi authorities will complete the construction of the shelters within 10 days, with each one guaranteed to accommodate six refugee families,” he said.
Since August 25th, the Myanmar army has committed genocide against Rohingya Muslims in Arakan province, killing and injuring thousands of civilians, according to Rohingya activists.
Some 400,000 displaced Rohingya have moved to Bangladesh since that date, according to the United Nations.
Many new refugees were forced to stay in temporary shelters in cramped and unhealthy locations until new sites were built, with the Government pledging to build an additional 14,000 shelters to accommodate them near the border with Myanmar.
The Secretary-General of the Organization, Antonio Guterres, urged Myanmar to end the violence, which said: “The best that can be described is ethnic cleansing”.
