The Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar: When the Stateless Seek Refuge

摘要

The Rohingya people of Myanmar have been subject to human rights violations through governmentsponsoreddiscrimination and violence. Since August 2017, an intensified assault by Myanmarauthorities has resulted in a rapid increase of Rohingya pouring into Bangladesh, and the expansionof refugee settlements in the district of Cox’s Bazar has strained humanitarian and government reliefefforts. Assessing Rohingya and host community needs is critical for prioritizing resource allocationsand for documenting the rights violations suffered by Rohingya refugees. From March 15 to 18, 2018, we conducted a rapid needs assessment of recently arrived Rohingya and host community households. We collected data on demographics, mortality, education, livelihoods, access to food and water, vaccination, and health care. Among other things, our survey found high levels of mortality among young Rohingya men, alarmingly low levels of vaccination among children, poor literacy, and rising poverty. Denied formal refugee status, the Rohingya cannot access due protections and find themselves in a state of insecurity in which they are unsure of their future and unable to formally seek work or send their children to school. While the government of Bangladesh explores the options of repatriation, relocation, and third-country resettlement for these refugees, it is important to ensure that they are not denied a life of dignity.