Rohingya influx continues

2,000 more enter in last one week

Rohingyas continue to cross over to Bangladesh from Myanmar's Rakhine state, with more than 2,000 having entered the country through different border points last week, according to sources. The International Organisation of Migration (IOM) estimates that around 655,000 Rohingyas have crossed the border till December 14.

Khaled Mahmud, additional district magistrate (ADM) of Cox’s Bazar district, said: “As Rohingyas are feeling insecure in Rakhine, they are still fleeing to Bangladesh. They are being kept under surveillance and are sometimes even arrested by security forces.” “Some of the new entrants are coming here by following the suggestions of their relatives, who have already fled to Bangladesh,” he added.

Meanwhile, as many as 19 diplomats from 15 countries yesterday visited Rohingya refugee camps in Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar district. They visited Balukhali and Kutuplaong Rohingya refugee camps and spoke to the refugees.

The ambassadors are from Austria, Ghana, New Zealand, Bosnia, Portugal, Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Georgia, Egypt, Mauritius, Slovenia, Ukraine, Zambia, Nigeria, Kenya, Fiji and the Czech Republic. The envoys came from New Delhi, as there are no permanent missions of these countries in Bangladesh and they serve Bangladesh from India.

“I’ve briefed them on the current situation of the Rohingyas. I told them in detail what exactly happened from August 25 till date,” said Ali Hossain, deputy commissioner of the Cox’s Bazar district administration.

“They wanted to know about sanitation, drinking water and healthcare of the Rohingyas. I have told them about the steps our government has taken. The Austrian envoy said his government would provide medicines for the Rohingyas,” he added.

The Bangladesh high commissioner to India, Syed Moazzem Ali, and deputy high commissioner Rakib Uddin accompanied the envoys.

In a press briefing on Friday in Geneva, United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson Babar Baloch had said they were increasingly worried about the deterioration in the overall situation and the protection of the refugees.

“Children, who account for 55 per cent of the Rohingya refugees, are particularly vulnerable. So are the women who

represent more than half of the refugees. An estimated 10 per cent are either disabled or have serious medical conditions or older persons who are at risk,” he had added.

According to a report of Department of Health (DoH), it has provided treatment for over 122,519 who suffered cough and cold, 92,534, who had acute diarrhoea, 41,836, who had diarrhoea with blood, 158,989 with fever, and 66,223 children between six months to 59 months who suffered from malnutrition.  

The UNHCR yesterday began the first phase of distributing almost 200,000 items of warm clothes among the refugees to give then protection against cold in the coming weeks, said the UNHCR statement.

 

Rohingya influx continues

2,000 more enter in last one week

Rohingyas continue to cross over to Bangladesh from Myanmars Rakhine state, with more than 2,000 having entered the country through different border points last week, according to sources. The International Organisation of Migration (IOM) estimates that around 655,000 Rohingyas have crossed the border till December 14. Khaled Mahmud, additional district magistrate (ADM) of Coxs Bazar district, said: As Rohingyas are feeling insecure in Rakhine, they are still fleeing to Bangladesh. They are being kept under surveillance and are sometimes even arrested by security forces. Some of the new entrants are coming here by following the suggestions of their relatives, who have already fled to Bangladesh, he added. Meanwhile, as many as 19 diplomats from 15 countries yesterday visited Rohingya refugee camps in Ukhiya upazila of Coxs Bazar district. They visited Balukhali and Kutuplaong Rohingya refugee camps and spoke to the refugees. The ambassadors are from Austria, Ghana, New Zealand, Bosnia, Portugal, Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Georgia, Egypt, Mauritius, Slovenia, Ukraine, Zambia, Nigeria, Kenya, Fiji and the Czech Republic. The envoys came from New Delhi, as there are no permanent missions of these countries in Bangladesh and they serve Bangladesh from India. Ive briefed them on the current situation of the Rohingyas. I told them in detail what exactly happened from August 25 till date, said Ali Hossain, deputy commissioner of the Coxs Bazar district administration. They wanted to know about sanitation, drinking water and healthcare of the Rohingyas. I have told them about the steps our government has taken. The Austrian envoy said his government would provide medicines for the Rohingyas, he added. The Bangladesh high commissioner to India, Syed Moazzem Ali, and deputy high commissioner Rakib Uddin accompanied the envoys. In a press briefing on Friday in Geneva, United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson Babar Baloch had said they were increasingly worried about the deterioration in the overall situation and the protection of the refugees. Children, who account for 55 per cent of the Rohingya refugees, are particularly vulnerable. So are the women who represent more than half of the refugees. An estimated 10 per cent are either disabled or have serious medical conditions or older persons who are at risk, he had added. According to a report of Department of Health (DoH), it has provided treatment for over 122,519 who suffered cough and cold, 92,534, who had acute diarrhoea, 41,836, who had diarrhoea with blood, 158,989 with fever, and 66,223 children between six months to 59 months who suffered from malnutrition. The UNHCR yesterday began the first phase of distributing almost 200,000 items of warm clothes among the refugees to give then protection against cold in the coming weeks, said the UNHCR statement.