Staff Reporter :
A noted human rights activist on Saturday urged the authorities to form a “national coordination committee” to deal with the unprecedented influx of Rohingya refuges fleeing violence in Myanmar erupted three weeks back.
She said a chaotic situation is prevailing at the makeshift Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar where aid is slow to reach due to lack of an organised response.
“I did not see any coordination in aid operation in Rohingya camps. It still runs with haphazard manner although the crisis has broken out three weeks back,” Salma Ali, Executive Director of Bangladesh National Woman Lawyers’ Association (BNWLA) told The New Nation on Saturday.
She said: “A huge crisis has been created in Cox’s Bazar district following the latest Rohingya influx
The government and the aid agencies should urgently deal the crisis in a coordinated manner.”
Tens of thousands of people have been sleeping out in the open sky as the capacity of existing Rohingya camps in Ukhia has already been exhausted. They need food, shelter and medical care in an urgent basis.
Salma Ali, who paid visit to Rohingya camps and borders, said the refuges are pouring into Bangladesh without security checks and registration causing serious security threat to Bangladesh.
“Security forces are allowing them unchecked. Even, they are allowed to go elsewhere from border. Locals alleged that they are carrying arms and drugs while their crossover into Bangladesh,” she added.
When asked, Salma Ali said she could not verify the allegation. The authorities should take a serious note of this considering the national security.
She also said that local also alleged that a syndicate is colleting money from Rohingyas while carrying them to Bangladesh by boats. Those who are failing to pay them are facing harassment or confinement by them.
“We have also learnt that Rohingya women and girls faced sexual harassment for their failure to pay them,” she said.
Even, refugees are paying the syndicate to get shelters in makeshift camps and build shelter the in the low hills.
“This business is running by local chairman and their followers. Even they are ruling on relief distribution. We cannot accept this. The authorities should look into the matter immediately,” she said.
Salma Ali also urged the authorities to extend special care for the traumatized Rohingya women and children in the camps.
“Crisis is deepening in Rohingya camps, with looming mismanagement. We know the government has limited resources to deal with the situation. The best option for the government is to form a national coordination committee comprising the experts of local and international NGOs,” she suggested.
All the main aid agencies, international bodies and government agencies must be involved to respond to the crisis in an orgainised manner.
A noted human rights activist on Saturday urged the authorities to form a “national coordination committee” to deal with the unprecedented influx of Rohingya refuges fleeing violence in Myanmar erupted three weeks back.
She said a chaotic situation is prevailing at the makeshift Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar where aid is slow to reach due to lack of an organised response.
“I did not see any coordination in aid operation in Rohingya camps. It still runs with haphazard manner although the crisis has broken out three weeks back,” Salma Ali, Executive Director of Bangladesh National Woman Lawyers’ Association (BNWLA) told The New Nation on Saturday.
She said: “A huge crisis has been created in Cox’s Bazar district following the latest Rohingya influx
The government and the aid agencies should urgently deal the crisis in a coordinated manner.”
Tens of thousands of people have been sleeping out in the open sky as the capacity of existing Rohingya camps in Ukhia has already been exhausted. They need food, shelter and medical care in an urgent basis.
Salma Ali, who paid visit to Rohingya camps and borders, said the refuges are pouring into Bangladesh without security checks and registration causing serious security threat to Bangladesh.
“Security forces are allowing them unchecked. Even, they are allowed to go elsewhere from border. Locals alleged that they are carrying arms and drugs while their crossover into Bangladesh,” she added.
When asked, Salma Ali said she could not verify the allegation. The authorities should take a serious note of this considering the national security.
She also said that local also alleged that a syndicate is colleting money from Rohingyas while carrying them to Bangladesh by boats. Those who are failing to pay them are facing harassment or confinement by them.
“We have also learnt that Rohingya women and girls faced sexual harassment for their failure to pay them,” she said.
Even, refugees are paying the syndicate to get shelters in makeshift camps and build shelter the in the low hills.
“This business is running by local chairman and their followers. Even they are ruling on relief distribution. We cannot accept this. The authorities should look into the matter immediately,” she said.
Salma Ali also urged the authorities to extend special care for the traumatized Rohingya women and children in the camps.
“Crisis is deepening in Rohingya camps, with looming mismanagement. We know the government has limited resources to deal with the situation. The best option for the government is to form a national coordination committee comprising the experts of local and international NGOs,” she suggested.
All the main aid agencies, international bodies and government agencies must be involved to respond to the crisis in an orgainised manner.
