UNHCR REPORTS FURTHER PROGRESS ON ROHINGYAS

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 000542

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EMB BANGKOK FOR JESSICA ADLER
STATE/PRM FOR EILEEN SEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2012
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PREF BG
SUBJECT: UNHCR REPORTS FURTHER PROGRESS ON ROHINGYAS


Classified By: Amb. Patricia A. Butenis for reasons 1.4(d)


1. SUMMARY (C) The government continues to take steps to
improve conditions in the official Rohingya refugee camps,
according to the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) office in Bangladesh. A government adviser
made the first-ever minister-level visit to the camps in
March. Meanwhile, the situation in the Teknaf settlement has
stabilized for the moment. END SUMMARY.

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FIRST EVER MINISTER-LEVEL VISIT TO REFUGEE CAMP
============================================= ==


2. (C) At the monthly coordinating meeting on March 25, UNHCR
Bangladesh representative Pia Pritz-Phiri reported more
progress on the issue of Rohingya refugee camps near Cox's
Bazar in southeastern Bangladesh. She reported that
Government Adviser Tapan Chowdhury, who oversees the Ministry
for Food and Disaster Management, made the first-ever
minister-level visit to a Rohingya refugee camp in March. He
spent several hours touring the Nayapara camp with
Pritz-Phiri, and was so upset by the poor conditions there
that he insisted on meeting directly with the refugees.


3. (C) The ministry's new local refugee coordinator in Cox's
Bazar later told UNHCR that Chowdhury had very strong words
for the local government in a private meeting after his camp
tour. The new coordinator said Chowdhury told them the
refugees should have freedom of movement, and needed better
education and work opportunities. Pritz-Phiri said she was
highly encouraged by Chowdhury's visit, and hoped that
momentum was building for a longer-term solution to the
situation.

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TEKNAF SITUATION: IMMEDIATE CRISIS AVERTED
==========================================


4. (C) Pritz-Phiri also provided an update on the situation
in the ad hoc Rohingya settlement in Teknaf, south of Cox's
Bazar. She said the government honored its pledge only to
clear away shelters within 15 feet of the main road. (NOTE:
This is part of the caretaker government's drive to demolish
illegal structures on public roads.) She also confirmed that
most displaced refugees had relocated to other parts of the
settlement. Medicins sans Frontieres has been providing
shelter equipment and water bottles, but UNHCR has not been
officially involved in the relief effort in Teknaf.


5. (C) Pritz-Phiri said a crisis in Teknaf had been averted
for the moment, though with many Rohingyas relocating closer
to the river bank, they were already "sleeping in mud." If
the river level were to rise during the rainy season, the
people closest to the river bank would be in danger. UNHCR
has raised these concerns with Adviser Chowdhury.
BUTENIS