1,700 Rohingyas moved from Kutupalong to new site
UNB
The UN Refugee Agency has relocated some 1,700 new arrivals from Myanmar to a government-allocated site in Coxs Bazar district, decongesting existing facilities in Kutupalong and giving them a home after weeks on the move, reports UNB. Most of the affected Rohingyas are among the thousands of Rohingyas who trekked for about a week to cross the Bangladesh border, only to be stranded in a border village for four days before being allowed to proceed inland last week.
UNHCR opened up a transit centre and some refugee schools in Kutupalong refugee camp to temporarily accommodate the most vulnerable refugees caught in this sudden influx, said UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch in Geneva yesterday. The relocation started on Tuesday in an effort to decongest Kutupalongs schools and resume classes, and to free up the transit centre for further arrivals.
A total of 5,000 Rohingyas will be moved to the newly-opened site, which is part of a larger 3,000-acre piece of land known as Kutupalong Extension designated by the Bangladesh government to host the new arrivals. Ahead of the move, UNHCR developed a site plan for the hilly area and started building latrines and digging tube wells. UNHCR is distributing household items and shelter kits containing plastic sheets, bamboo poles and rope, said the Spokesperson.
