UN-Bangladesh MoU on Bhashan Char aiming at better protection

The UN has finally agreed to cooperate with Bangladesh in the Bhashan Char camp for the Rohingya refugees on October 9_ 2021_ where around 19000 Rohingya FDMNs have already been moved since December last year.

Bangladesh has taken a holistic approach from the beginning of the latest influx of Rohingya refugees since August 2017. At least 750_000 Rohingya refugees crossed the border to take refuge in the strategically important southern part of Bangladesh Cox s Bazar where 300_000 Rohingyas had already been fled from time to time. To ease pressure from the clogged camps and to address the social_ environmental_ and security aspects_ the Bangladesh government has initiated the Bhashan Char project under the Ashrayan project-3 spending more than $350 million. However_ some groups were and are still critical and suspicious about the approach of Bangladesh. Despite these issues_ the clear intention of Bangladesh in viable refugee management triumphs the decision of UNHCR in engaging in the Bhashan Char.

At the beginning of the relocation process_ the UN and other human rights activists were skeptical concerning the sustainability of the island and the voluntariness of Rohingyas to be relocated. After series of visits by the high officials of UNHCR_ OIC_ and other donor states_ all of them expressed their satisfaction over the facilities in the Bhashan Char. While visiting the camp in May this year_ the former United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) president Volkan Bozkir "highly appreciated" the efforts of Bangladesh for the Rohingyas in the Bhashan Char.  UNHCR_ after the technical assessments_ decided to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bangladesh to start the humanitarian support for the Rohingya refugees on the island. The deal is the acknowledgment and recognition of the efforts of Bangladesh; the involvement of UNHCR is a credit for the country.

Still_ what are the major challenges that the UNHCR needs to address? First and foremost is the limbo of Rohingya refugees stuck in the camps of Cox s Bazar for the last four years and single refugees yet to be repatriated. The future of over 1.1 million Rohingya refugees is uncertain and aid dependency is not a solution to the complex Rohingya crisis. Most importantly_ every year 30_000 Rohingya children have been added to the number who will face a serious identity crisis in the future. No confusion that the Rohingya refugees who fled to Bangladesh due to fear of persecution will return whenever a suitable environment for repatriation creates. But_ what about the newborn Rohingya children who are being raised in refugeehood and deprived of formal education? Besides_ the social and mental issues of the FDMNs cannot also be ignored in any way. In this regard_ the UN engagements in the Bhashan char will help to ensure better "protection_ education_ skills-training_ livelihoods_ and health_ which will help support the refugees to lead decent lives on the island and better prepare them for sustainable return to Myanmar in the future".

To conclude_ the involvement of UNHCR in the Bhashan Char is a commendable decision though being late. It will facilitate the living conditions of the Rohingya FDMNs residing there. However_ the only remedy to the Rohingya crisis is the safe and dignified return of the Arakan Muslims. The international community needs to advocate for the speedy and safer return of the Rohingya refugees to their homeland.