The KT Blog: Rohingya Crisis

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The KT Blog: Rohingya Crisis

Our Abu Dhabi Bureau Chief Anjana Sankar is back in Bangladesh.

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Anjana Sankar

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Published: Wed 7 Feb 2018, 11:35 PM

Last updated: Fri 9 Feb 2018, 12:34 AM

She's back in Bangladesh to capture the hopes and fears of a million-plus refugees. Khaleej Times' Abu Dhabi Bureau Chief Anjana Sankar is once again in Bangladesh to highlight the plight of hundreds of thousands of desperate Rohingya refugees who are living in renewed hope of returning to their homes. We will track the developments throughout this week on KhaleejTimes.com and bring you 'live' updates from ground zero. Track Anjana's live blog here.

 

Wednesday, February 7, 2018


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Tuesday, February 6, 2018


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"We will not go back to hell"

Mohammed Nur cannot speak. But ask him whether he wants to go back home to Myanmar, and this speech-impaired Rohingya refugee will recount his horrors in animated gestures.
By swiping his palms in a cross-motion across his neck, by holding an imaginary Kalashnikov and shooting, by liting a non-existent matchbox and making fire, Nur reenacted the macabre violence and brutality the Myanmar army unleashed at his village.
Through interpreters, Khaleej Times could understand that the army hacked his people to death. They shoot down many Rohingya in his village. The men in uniform burned down his house. His five children were thrown into fire.  
Going back home is the last thing he wants. But Nur is not an exception. Many Rohingya Refugees this reporter spoke to said they fear the worst if they return to a country, which they fled just six months ago.
"I want to go home. But we don't want to go back to hell," said Zeeyouraman hailing from Meeshung Zay village in Myanmar.
"We want Myanmar government to give us citizenship and accept our identity. We lived like cattle all these years. We want them to guarantee us basic rights so that we can live with dignity."
Mohammed Harris, who is 16 years old has left behind his father and mother in Myanmar. He is still hesitant to return.
"My house got burned. There is no guarantee for safety. What if the army come back to torture us?," asked Harris.
Abdul Hakim, 65, also has seen the worst. The old man said his son-in-law died trying to protect his wife from getting raped. "We suffered a lot. We are willing to go back. But International aid agencies and other Muslim countries of the world have to ensure our safety," said Hakim.
Many Rohingya families lost their means for livelihood when the army reportedly went on a rampage killing, raping and setting fire to villages in the Rakhine state.
"What will we live on? Will the army rebuild our houses? We are living on aid in Bangladesh. But people respect us. I don't want to go and beg on the streets of Myanmar," said Rasheeda, a Rohingya woman.

5:10PM 

4:30PM

 

Myanmar not yet safe for Rohingya return - UNHCR  

Cox's Bazar: Current conditions in Myanmar are not favourable for the safe return of Rohingya refugees, according to the UN Refugee agency, UNHCR.
"We believe further measures are required to ensure safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable repatriation of refugees to their places of origin and to address the underlying root causes of the crisis. We do not believe that current conditions on the ground in Myanmar are conducive to return," UNHCR's Senior Public Information Officer, Caroline Gluck told Khaleej Times.
The Refugee agency is also urging Myanmar government to allow UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies access to areas where the refugees had been living. "That is something we currently do not have," said Gluck.
"Access would allow for an assessment of the actual return conditions and the long-term viability of returns.  It would also help address the legitimate safety concerns for any refugees contemplating their return there."
About 650,000 Rohingya refugees have fled violence and mass killings by the military in Myanmar's Rakhine state since August 2017, and taken shelter in Bangladesh. Though Myanmar has denied allegations of an ethnic cleansing of the Muslim minorities, officials admitted to finding a mass grave with ten identified bodies in Inn Din village in mid December.
 
Though Myanmar has committed to implementing the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission, established by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Gluck said they would like to see pledges followed up by practical steps towards these goals.
"They include ensuring peace and security for all communities in Rakhine State, reducing communal divisions and solutions for the citizenship status of Muslim communities."
The repatriation deal signed by the two countries on November 23, 2017 and the initial agreement to begin repatriation as early as January had raised concerns among the international humanitarian organisations.
Echoing the same sentiment, Gluck said it was critical that returns are not rushed or premature. "The timing and pace of repatriation should be determined by the refugees themselves when they feel the circumstances are right, and by the absorption capacity on the ground."
"Sending refugees back against their will and before conditions are conducive puts them at serious risk. It also undermines the credibility and the sustainability of returns." 
The UNHCR also want international agencies to have unhindered access to returnees in Myanmar in order to help build confidence, provide support and deliver assistance.  
 
 
 

4:00PM

Etihad Airways delegations helping to distribute food for the people at a Rohingya camp in Ukhiya
 

3: 50PM

Food distribution at a Rohingya camp in Ukhiya
 

3: 40PM

Khalid Al Mehairbi, Senior Vice President of Etihad Airways services at the Rohingya camp in Ukhiya
 

3: 25PM

People waiting for aid trucks to arrive at the Rohingya camp in Ukhiya
 

3: 10PM

People queuing up for aid at the Rohingya camp in Ukhiya 
 

3:04PM

Etihad Airways delegation at a Rohingya camp in Ukhiya
 

12:40PM

Rohinya return to begin in March
In what could be the beginning of a mass reverse exodus from Bangladesh,  the first batch of Rohingya refugees is expected to leave for Myanmar by March this year, a Foreign Ministry official said on Monday.
"We are working out the final details. The joint working group set up between Myanmar and Bangladesh will be meeting again in March. The process (of repatriation of refugees) is expected to begin immediately after that," a senior director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh told Khaleej Times.
The official said the government will start distributing repatriation forms by next week at the camps in Cox's Bazar, following a bilateral deal with Myanmar.
"We cannot force people. But those willing to go back can fill in their details along with those of their families."
"Time is not so important in this matter. We are not sending back cattle or cargo. We are dealing with human beings. And it is a complex process."
He said the first batch to return in March will consist of around 1000 Rohingya refugees, mostly families, said the official.
"We are in no rush. But once the first batch leaves, the process will pick up pace. Myanmar is cooperating with us and we are working out all the details including logistics and transit camps," said the official. 
More than 650,000 Rohingya - mostly muslims - fled violence and persecution in the Rakine state of Myanmar in August last year, and are currently sheltered in Bangladesh.
On November 23 last year, both Bangladesh and Myanmar government mutually consented on a deal to repatriate the Rohingya to Myanmar.
The first joint working group between the two countries met on January 16 in Myanmar's capital Naypyitaw to finalise the details.

12:35PM

Repatriation forms not to mention nationality

The content of the form as mutually agreed between Bangladesh and Myanmar will require refugees to fill in their personal details including name, age, gender and address in Myanmar, said the foreign ministry official. Those who have proof of identity should provide copies.
"Initially, Myanmar wanted to include as mandatory information 'Nationality' and 'Religion' of Rohingya who wants to return. But after negotiations, they have agreed to make it optional," said the official.
Applicants will have to go through a verification process before they are allowed to return, as per the conditions outlined by Myanmar.  The government has announced it will set up temporary sites to accommodate returnees.
Bangladesh, on its part, has announced it will set up five transit camps to send Rohingya refugees across the border.

12:35PM

Roping in UNHCR
Bangladesh government said it will make use of the data collected by UNHCR on Rohingya families to begin the repatriation process.
"We will soon be signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the UN refugee agency to the effect," said the ministry official.
In November 2017, the UNHCR completed its first phase of refugee family counting gathering data on 120,284 families comprising 517,643 refugees.
The exercise, conducted jointly by UNHCR and Bangladesh's Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission (RRRC), took place in the Kutupalong camp, makeshift and extension areas and Balukhali makeshift areas.
"We want UNHCR on the ground to supervise the repatriation process. Rohingya families would not be confident to return without the presence and involvement of international humanitarian organisations. A bigger concern is the preparedness of Myanmar in resettling the people who once fled the country fearing for their lives," said the official.  

Previously on Khaleej Times' first visit to the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar area of Bangladesh. (UAE time) 

Monday, September 25, 2017

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Sunday, September 24

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Saturday, September 23

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10:40AM

More than 750 families have taken shelter in Hindu Rohingya refugee camp in Kutupalong in Cox's Bazar since August 27.

Friday, September 22

2:48PM

Noorkolima's husband was murdered by the Myanmar army. She does not have anyone to take care of her and her baby at the Lede camp.


2:46PM

Children at Lede make-shift camp share a light moment. 


2:40PM

Myanmar can be seen from a distance.


11:07AM

The Lede refugee camps are situated near the Myanmar border.

9:41AM

We visit the Lede refugee camps which has multiple makeshift camps for Rohingya refugees.

Thursday, September 21

12:19AM

Refugees lining the streets looking for food and shelter.


12:15AM

Plumes of smoke still coming from the Rakhine state in Myanmar.


12:09AM

How most of Kutupalong looks like; there are tarpaulin tents everywhere.


 

11:51PM

People clamor for food aid when a truck arrives.


11:42PM

Refugees are living without a roof on their heads


11:39PM

Rohingya refugees receive bags of rice from an Australian aid agency.


4:20pm

The fleeing Rohingya arrives in Bangladesh. Dozens of families reached the border safely in boats after crossing the Naf river from Myanmar.
 
 

4:30pm

Local villagers distributing food and money to the newly arrived Rohingya refugees.
 

4:40pm

A mother and son arrive in Bangladesh.
 
 

4:48pm

Dozens of Rohingya refugee families arrived in boats today evening at Shahpuri Deep, in Teknaf Upazila bordering Myanmar.
 


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