Newly arrived Rohingya families in Bangladesh are facing severe hardships as they attempt to settle in Camp-20 of Cox’s Bazar without any support from NGOs or relevant agencies.
According to reports, these families, who have recently fled violence and persecution in Myanmar, are struggling to construct makeshift shelters using whatever materials they can find. With no immediate assistance from humanitarian organizations, they are left without proper housing, food, or essential supplies.
The lack of support raises concerns about their safety and well-being, especially given the ongoing challenges within the refugee camps, including overcrowding and limited resources. Rights groups and humanitarian organizations have repeatedly called for urgent aid to new arrivals, emphasizing their vulnerability.
As the crisis continues, it remains unclear when or if assistance will reach these families. The situation highlights the growing struggles of Rohingya refugees who continue to flee Myanmar in search of safety and stability.
The camps, which were established to provide safety for those fleeing persecution in Myanmar, now serve as hunting grounds for criminal gangs. Refugees have criticized the lack of adequate security measures within the camps, pointing to poor law enforcement and an absence of effective intervention from the authorities.
Despite efforts by camp management and humanitarian organizations to improve safety, the sheer scale of the crisis has made it difficult to address. Limited resources and the challenges of governing such densely populated camps exacerbate the issue. Many fear reporting incidents to the authorities due to possible retaliation from the perpetrators.
The Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh fled Myanmar following brutal military crackdowns beginning on August 25, 2017. During this period, the Myanmar military’s clearance operations in the Maungdaw region led to the destruction of 362 villages and forced over 680,000 Rohingya to flee their homes, according to a March 2018 report by Human Rights Watch (HRW). The survivors of these atrocities now face continued persecution in their supposed places of refuge.
Human rights organizations and community leaders have called for immediate action to address this crisis. They are urging the Bangladesh government, international agencies, and humanitarian groups to strengthen security measures in the camps, crack down on trafficking networks, and provide better support for victims and their families.
The Rohingya people, who have already endured unimaginable suffering, are now trapped in a cycle of violence and fear. Without decisive action, the safety and dignity of one of the world’s most vulnerable communities remain at grave risk.
The Border News Agency interviewed several refugees living in the camps, and the majority expressed a strong desire to return to their homeland in Myanmar. However, their willingness to return is contingent upon receiving full citizenship rights and guarantees of safety, dignity, and freedom in their country.
The refugees emphasized that they long to rebuild their lives in the land of their ancestors but are unwilling to return under the current conditions, where their rights are denied, and their safety is uncertain. Many pointed out that they had fled horrific violence and systematic persecution, and they fear a repeat of the atrocities unless Myanmar recognizes their rights and ensures their protection.
Their hopes for repatriation rest on international intervention and accountability measures to address the injustices they have endured. For now, they remain in the camps, dreaming of a future where they can live in peace and with the full recognition of their identity in their homeland.
