DHAKHA: Thousands of Rohingya rallied at camps in Ukhia Bangladesh and were demanding their safe return to Myanmar on the sixth anniversary of the violence that drove them from their homes.
Since 2017, more than 730,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh and other nearby countries. After their movement to other countries, they were accommodated in refugee camps.
Subsequently the military crackdown against Rohingya refugees, about a million of them shifted to Bangladesh who are still there as the stateless minority.
Besides having unknown future, these refugees are suffered with widespread frustration over rampant lawlessness in the settlement camps followed by cuts to international humanitarian aid and the lack of progress in a much-hyped repatriation deal.
We Are Still the Citizens of Myanmar
While talking to media on Friday a Rohingya community leader Kamal Hussain said that nothing has been changed about their status as they were and are the citizens of Myanmar and they demanded their identity. “They are slowly trying to wipe out our name from the history of Myanmar,” he lamented.
Meanwhile scores of protests were held across different localities of the settlement areas near the Myanmar border, where in one of the protests more than 10,000 refugees were gathered for protest, according to the Armed Police Battalion, which is responsible for maintaining security in the camps. They were chanting as ‘2023 should be Home Year,
Another refugees Mohammad Imran, 19, expressed his displeasure and said that they were facing insecurity and increasing frustration in the camps and wanted to move back to their homes with full rights.
Budget Cut on humanitarian Aid
Earlier the Budget cut issue has forced the UN World Food Program to reduce the humanitarian aid to the Rohingya camps this year, with rations now settled as $8 per refugee, per month. In addition, malnutrition has already affected the population in the camps creating other issues violence, drug trafficking etc. Dozens have been killed in Rohingya camp clashes so far this year, including children and women.
According to a statement by the UN refugee agency this week the humanitarian work in the world’s largest refugee settlement have become worsen and it might be deteriorated further.
Myanmar and Bangladesh are working on a pilot program to initiate the returning process of the Rohingya back to their homes, despite concerns from rights groups who say conditions are not favorable for their return.
Widely considered as interlopers from Bangladesh, Rohingya community who remains in Myanmar is being denied citizenship and access to healthcare. They are also requiring permission to travel outside of their townships.
