Vulnerability of Rohingya children

Almost 200,000 Rohingya refugees, more than 50 per cent of them being children, are currently vulnerable to monsoon calamities like torrential rain and landslide in Cox's Bazar, reveals a recent report by UNICEF Bangladesh.

Most of the makeshift shelters are built either on the hilltop or alongside hillslopes. Cox's Bazar is a rain-prone area where prolonged rain persists pretty often. Landslide and downpour in the hilly area are very risky factors to deal with in this rainy season. Plight of the Rohingya people, especially the children and women, knew no bounds during the last rainy season. They underwent huge sufferings amid torrential rain which have come back to haunt them this time.

International bodies like UNICEF earlier expressed deep concern over the issues of children. They called for shifting the refugee camps quickly. Also, there is the danger of contagious water-borne diseases may spread in the camps where children are the most vulnerable ones. The government seems to be moving slowly with its relocation plan, but the tempo needs to be accelerated. Bangladesh has already drawn world attention and appreciation for giving shelter to Rohingyas. The government should, therefore, decide quickly and accelerate the tempo of moving the risky Rohingya camps to a suitable place.

Md. Zillur Rahaman

Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd.

Lalmohan Branch, Bhola.

[email protected]