It voices concern over 'growing abuse' as more people sail from Bay
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has welcomed the Bangladesh government's initiative to 'list' an estimated 200,000 to 500,000 unregistered Rohingya in Bangladesh, reports UNB.
"We hope the exercise will be carried out in accordance with international standards and that it'll will result in access to documentation, assistance and justice for these groups living outside the camps," UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards said at a press briefing in Geneva Tuesday.
In Bangladesh, which has hosted Rohingya refugees for more than two decades, there have been several positive developments in the last year, the UN refugee agency observed.
"Education was extended to middle school level (13-14 year-old children) in the two official camps hosting more than 30,000 Rohingya refugees. In addition, the government has also agreed to the improvement of services in the camps including shelter and livelihood opportunities," said the Spokesperson.
Two years after inter-communal violence erupted in Myanmar's Rakhine state, thousands of people are still leaving by boat from the Bay of Bengal and reports of abuse and exploitation as people seek safety and stability elsewhere are meanwhile increasing, he said.
UNHCR estimates more than 86,000 people have left on boats since June 2012. This includes more than 16,000 people in the second half of 2012, 55,000 in 2013 and nearly 15,000 from January to April this year.
While 730 people are reported to have died on this journey in the second half of 2012, that number fell to 615 for all of last year, possibly due to the use of larger, more stable cargo boats by smuggling networks.
People who have made it to Thailand, Malaysia or Indonesia have told UNHCR staff about overcrowded boats that sometimes lost their way or developed engine problems.
