A drastic fall in humanitarian funds and uncertainty about repatriation mark the seventh anniversary of Rohingya influx into Bangladesh, thereby putting both refugees and host communities at risk, experts said.
Those involved in the humanitarian assistance at grass-roots level have cautioned that thousands at Rohingya camps are in peril as they have to compromise with food rationing and others.
For the last couple of years, only 60 per cent of the humanitarian funds required for the refugees were received, according to officials.
Moreover, as the repatriation of the Rohingya is not in sight in near future, experts suggest Bangladesh start talks with the Arakan Army who are practically in control of Rakhine State, the homeland of over 0.1 million Rohingya now staying here.
"Fund deficit is painful but we are trying hard to encourage the donors to continue their funding," foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen told the FE.
Usually, donors tend to reduce funding for old refugee situations and funding for the Rohingya is declining with the emergence of new situations in Ukraine, Sudan and the Middle East, he explained.
However, those working at grass-roots level to provide humanitarian aid make it clear that thousands of Rohingya will be under severe threat due to malnutrition if funds continue to decline.
"This declining trend is a matter of grave concern because if the funding is shortened, life-saving assistance will be compromised," said Manish Kumar Agrawal, county director of the Concern Worldwide.
"And this will be dangerous, not only for the camps, but then also for the Bangladesh host community, because you have a million-plus people, if they are deprived of life-saving assistance, then it's definitely going to have much larger implications for surrounding areas."
He said malnutrition has been worsening due to cuts in food rationing and the number of children with clear malnutrition symptoms is rising day by day.
Concern Worldwide is responsible for over 60 per cent of nutrition-related activities at 22 refugee camps in Cox's Bazar.
Asked about a way out, Mr Manish laid more emphasis on development funding to engage the refugees in income-generating and livelihood activities.
Furthermore, attracting development funding would be a good alternative in the face of declining humanitarian support, he told the FE.
On the other hand, experts suggested the government open up channels for communication with the Arakan Army.
A latest report of the International Crisis Group (ICG) said, "For all the challenges it's facing domestically, Bangladesh also has a key role to play in Rakhine State. The emergence on its border of a de facto state that aspires to permanent autonomy will require the new interim government in Dhaka to expand the scope of its engagement with the Arakan Army..."
Asked about opening communication with the Arakan Army, Mr Momen told the FE that the government was observing the situation.
"We see reports that the Myanmar military government is losing ground in Rakhine," said the seasoned diplomat, adding that Myanmar assured Bangladesh that they are committed to taking back the Rohingya.
"If the situation demands, the government can talk to all stakeholders to ensure safe and dignified repatriation of the Rohingya."
In just a few months, the Arakan Army has created the largest area in Myanmar under the control of a non-state armed group in terms of both size and population and is now on the verge of securing almost all of Rakhine.
According to the ICG, Rakhine remains at a perilous juncture, requiring leaders of both Rakhine and Rohingya communities to rise above their historical animosity and defuse tensions.
It has urged the Arakan Army to incorporate more Rohingya into its administration and commit to supporting an independent investigation into allegations of abuses against civilians.
Narrating the current situation, the Amnesty International said acute funding shortfall led to food insecurity in camps as well as shortcomings in health care and education.
"Bangladesh continues to host nearly 0.1-million Rohingya refugees in camps in poor conditions for the seventh consecutive year. Last year, at least 12,000 refugees in camps were rendered homeless due to devastating fires and the impact of cyclone Mocha."
"Bangladesh's new interim government should prioritize the protection of Rohingya refugees' human rights and their safety in camps, uphold the principle of non-refoulment, and adopt a rights-respecting policy towards the Rohingya," the Amnesty said in a report.
On 25 August 2017, Myanmar security forces launched a widespread and systematic assault on Rohingya villages after an armed group calling itself the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army carried out deadly attacks on police posts.
The military response included extrajudicial killings, destruction of properties and sexual assault. As a result of the military's so-called "clearance operations", more than 740,000 Rohingya women, men and children fled northern Rakhine to neighbouring Bangladesh.
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