UNHCR REPORTS PROGRESS ON ROHINGYAS

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 006791

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR PRM (EKELLEY)
BANGKOK FOR POL/REF (JADLER)
CORRECTED COPY - PARAS RE-NUMBERED

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2016
TAGS: PREF PHUM BG
SUBJECT: UNHCR REPORTS PROGRESS ON ROHINGYAS

Classified By: DCM Geeta Pasi, reason para 1.4 d.


1. (C) On December 12 UNHCR Resident Representative Pia
Pritz-Phiri updated POLOFF on the Rohingya refugee situation.
Pritz-Phiri said she was preparing to sign UNHCR's 2007
sub-agreement with the GOB the following day. She said that
in contrast to the 2006 agreement, which was completed only
in October 2006, UNHCR had relatively few problems in
finalizing the 2007 agreement. She credited the GOB's change
in attitude to the diplomatic interventions of the US and
other countries as well as personnel changes in the GOB
ministry responsible for refugees.


2. (C) UNHCR reported that the situation in the camps has
"markedly improved" in recent months. Ten new pilot shelters,
as well as new latrines and a maternity ward, have been
completed. For the first time, residents of the camps are
being employed in these camp construction projects. New adult
literacy and skills training, and improvements in child
education, have begun. In addition, the GOB has reversed
policy and agreed to permit other UN agencies and additional
non-governmental organizations to work in the camps.
Pritz-Phiri noted that UNHCR had established a close and
positive working relationship with the new GOB Refugee Relief
and Repatriation Coordinator for Cox's Bazar. She said that
in October, UNHCR staff held an unprecedented two-day retreat
with GOB officials to discuss planning for 2007, helping to
pave the way for easy approval of the 2007 sub-agreement.


3. (C) In a related development, 13 Rohingya refugees
departed on December 13 for resettlement in Canada.
According to UNHCR, this is the first time Rohingyas have
been resettled in a third country. Pritz-Phiri said that
though the number was small, the impact in the camps was
significant. Camp protection officers report increased
parental interest in sending their children to school, and
higher school attendance rates, indicating awareness that
education is an important factor for resettlement. She said
all these measures are starting to lift conditions in the
camps closer to international standards.

(C) 4. While Pritz-Phiri referred to these developments as
"remarkable," she emphasized there is still a long way to go.
Camp improvements represent shorter-term relief, but a
long-term solution, in the form of repatriation or
resettlement, is still elusive. Pritz-Phiri thanked the
Embassy for its active engagement on the issue, and requested
that we continue checking in monthly with GOB officials on
Rohingyas, saying that this level of USG attention sends an
important signal. She also hoped the USG will participate in
a UNHCR stakeholders conference on Rohingyas, tentatively
scheduled in Geneva for March 2007.
BUTENIS