Long-suffering Rohingya face unacceptable abuse

Forced displacement, intimidation and abuse in Kutupalong makeshift camp, Bangladesh

18 June 2009: Thousands of unregistered Rohingya refugees living in Kutupalong Makeshift Camp, Bangladesh, are being forcibly displaced from their homes, in an act of intimidation and abuse by the local authorities. International medical organisation Médecins Sans Frontières has treated numerous people for injuries, of which the majority were women and children. Further, the organisation has witnessed countless destroyed homes and heard many reports of people being warned to remove their own shelters or face the consequences.

“I was working. When I went back to my shelter I found it totally destroyed. An inspector was there with nine or ten people, I asked why they destroyed my house. They showed me a fish-cutter and said if you say anything I’ll cut you,” told a camp resident

To date, an estimated 25,000 people have flocked to Kutupalong makeshift camp hoping for recognition and assistance. Instead of finding help, they have been told that they cannot live next to the official camp, supported by the Bangladeshi Government and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. Nor can they legally live on adjacent Forestry Department land. They have nowhere to go and no way to meet their basic needs. “I cannot move. If we go to collect wood we will be arrested, if we collect water we will be beaten, if we move our house where should we go,” explains another camp resident.

In March 2009, Médecins Sans Frontières was alerted to rapidly rising numbers in the makeshift camp and conducted an assessment.  Some 20,000 people were living in dire humanitarian conditions, with global acute malnutrition rates above the emergency threshold, 90% food insecurity, poor water and sanitation, and no assistance. “To forcibly displace this group when they are already so vulnerable is outrageous,” says Gemma Davies, Project Coordinator, Kutupalong Makeshift Camp.

Médecins Sans Frontières responded immediately by treating the severely malnourished children, offering basic health care and improving water sources and waste facilities.

“Within four weeks of opening we had almost 1,000 children in our feeding program. The rainy season has begun and the appalling water and sanitation situation is further deteriorating increasing the risk of communicable diseases. These people have little to no access to even the most basic of services and they are being forced to flee in fear, with nowhere to turn. The situation is deplorable,” continues Gemma.

Sadly, such a desperate situation is nothing new to the Rohingya, a Muslim ethnic minority originating from Myanmar, where they are denied citizenship and suffer persecution and discrimination. Over the past two decades, hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes to seek refuge abroad. However, few have been granted refugee status. The majority struggle to survive unrecognised and unassisted in countries like Bangladesh and Thailand. A fundamental solution for the Rohingya, not only in countries where they seek asylum but at their origin, is crucial to restoring the health and dignity of these long suffering people.

To arrange interviews with Médecins Sans Frontières spokespeople, please contact Sally McMillan on 0447 482 379.