Rohingya Refugee Crisis: Bangladesh Overwhelmed by New Arrivals

While the border between Bangladesh and Myanmar remains officially closed and under the supervision of border guards, nearly 150,000 Rohingya refugees arrived in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, in the last 18 months.

According to the UN High commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the violence and targeted persecution in the state of Rakhine, Myanmar, and the current conflict in that country continue to force thousands of Rohingya to seek protection in Bangladesh.

This movement of refugees to Bangladesh, spread over several months, is the most meaningful from Myanmar since 2017, when some 750,000 people fled deadly violence in their original state, Rakhine.

Already Overcrowded Refugee Camps

“In Cox’s Bazar, these new arrivals join nearly a million other Rohingya refugees packed into only 24 square kilometers, which makes these camps one of the most densely populated places in the world,” said Babar Baloch, UNHCR spokesperson, in a regular UN press point in Geneva.

Among the new arrivals, more than 120,000 had undergone biometric identification by the end of June. According to the UN agency, more people reside informally in the already overcrowded refugee camps. The overwhelming majority of them are women and children.

faced with this influx, the UNHCR emphasizes the urgency of strengthening humanitarian aid, as newcomers largely depend on the solidarity of those already living in the camps, which strains already reduced resources.

Due to the acute global financial crisis, the essential needs of newly arrived refugees and those already present will not be met, and essential services for the entire Rohingya refugee population may collapse.

In the Absence of funds, Food Aid Will Cease in December

Refugees living in camps are already beginning to feel the impact of reductions in humanitarian aid. They fear further cuts are looming. This situation fuels despair and anxiety, pushing some to embark on hazardous maritime crossings toward other countries in search of security and a more dignified life for their families.

“Without an immediate injection of funds, this aid will soon dry up,” said Baloch, noting that “If additional funds are not obtained, health services will be seriously disrupted by September, and essential fuel for cooking will run out.”

Starting next December, food aid will stop. The education of some 230,000 children is also at risk.