OPPORTUNITY IN A TIME OF CRISIS: LIVES OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DHAKA 000479 SIPDIS PRM FOR HOA TRAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/13/2019 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF PREL BG BM SUBJECT: OPPORTUNITY IN A TIME OF CRISIS: LIVES OF ROHINGYAS BECOMING MORE PRECARIOUS BUT HOPE REMAINS REF: A. 08 DHAKA 770 ¶B. 09 DHAKA 447 Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4(b) and (d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Despite improvements in the living conditions of registered Rohingya refugees in southeast Bangladesh, the overall situation there is in danger of deteriorating. As the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) and UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) make further progress inside the camps, the quality of life for unregistered refugees outside appears to be worsening. Nevertheless, with a new, elected government in place there remains a window of opportunity for substantial gains. Ambassador,s visit -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Ambassador, UNHCR Country Representative and Australian High Commissioner toured both refugee camps, one settlement for unregistered refugees and met with local GOB officials, including the Refugee, Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC),the local representative for the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management (MFDM). The May 5-7 visit was part of a UNHCR-organized annual trip for Chiefs of Diplomatic Missions through the refugee coordination mechanism, the Dhaka Steering Group (DSG). The group also met with the Superintendent of Police for the area and toured a local government-run community health clinic. The Ambassador visited livelihood projects and spoke with community leaders in the Nayapara camp. Two camps and a settlement -------------- ¶3. (SBU) There are two "official" Rohingya refugee camps in southeastern Bangladesh near Cox's Bazar: Nayapara and Kutupalong. According to UNHCR, the camps house approximately 28,000 residents-up from the previous total of 23,000-with nearly 17,000 in Nayapara and 11,000 in Kutupalong. Under an agreement with the GOB, UNHCR received permission to register an additional 5,000 refugees who had been living in the camps. (Note: The UNHCR has no further plans to register additional refugees. End note.) The DSG plans to focus on development in the region with the ultimate aim of &opening up8 the camps by 2009, namely allowing the refugees freedom of movement, education and employment. ¶4. (C) GOB estimates 10,000-15,000 unregistered refugees live outside the Kutupalong camp, but Mdecins sans Frontires-Holland (MSF-Holland) estimates this figure to be as high as 19,000. In addition, over 12,000 Rohingyas reside in the unofficial Leda settlement. An estimated 200,000-500,000 Rohingyas live amongst the population in southeast Bangladesh. An impending crisis for the unregistered -------------- ¶5. (C) The 10,000-15,000 unregistered refugees residing in makeshift shelters outside Kutupalong face imminent danger. These refugees access camp resources intended for registered refugees. This puts a strain on UNHCR,s overstretched resources. Their homes, built on a hill, are in danger of being washed away during the rainy season. The UNHCR Country Representative expressed concern about cholera outbreaks during the rainy months given the unsanitary living conditions and the potential for cholera to spread to the camps. The population has grown from approximately 5,000-7,000 a year ago. MSF-Holland is providing emergency health assistance and estimates that the acute global malnutrition rate among this population of unregistered refugees is 21% and the severe (under five) rate, 4-5%. UNHCR suggests that many of these refugees were living in nearby villages until forced to move during voter registration drives in 2008. However, they can not explain why the population living outside the camps has continued to grow. The GOB agrees that voter registration drives were a causal factor, opining that some may be new arrivals from DHAKA 00000479 002 OF 003 Burma. During the meeting with the RRRC, the Ambassador registered deep concern over the humanitarian crisis, warning that great care would be required to avoid creating another magnet for refugees from nearby villages. ¶6. (C) Equally disconcerting is the situation in the Leda site where over 12,000 unregistered refugees reside. Although conditions appear to have stabilized, there continues to be little GOB presence. Most of the work continues to be performed by Islamic Relief and Muslim Aid, two charities sponsored by the European Commission. Inching forward -------------- ¶7. (C) There is continued visible progress inside the camps despite personnel changes at the local level; namely the RRRC and also the officials overseeing the camps, the Camp in Charge (CIC). (Note: RRRCs and CICs usually do not last very long in the position. In the past year alone there have been three RRRCs. CICs have remained in their positions for an average of six months. End note.) The UNHCR issued over 26,000 individual identification cards to refugees as a basis for rations, thereby eliminating the trade in ration books that used to occur. The UNHCR is currently conducting a profiling exercise of the registered refugees in order to more clearly understand and serve the population. GOB officials and the UNHCR have instituted a strong camp management system, allowing the refugees some measure of self-governance, thus combating the resurgence of the Majhees*local camp leaders who had used their powers to exploit refugees. Construction of newer, studier housing to replace the old dilapidated structures continues as does a project to upgrade water and sanitation facilities. Water and sanitation work had been stalled for five weeks by the previous RRRC who appeared to be seeking a bribe; he was subsequently replaced by the GOB. Education a concern -------------- ¶8. (C) The UN Children,s Fund (UNICEF) offers primary education inside the camps, up to grade five, based on the Bangladesh national curriculum. According to the GOB, approximately 58% of the refugee population in the camps was born in Bangladesh and is under the age of 17. UNICEF emphasizes adult literacy and has enrolled nearly 8,000 refugees from the two camps into basic Bangla language classes. While there are still no formal provisions for secondary or tertiary education, a number of refugees have studied on their own. Others are enrolled in nearby schools. The Ambassador underscored the need for education in order to improve the lives of the Rohingyas and asked the UNHCR whether the GOB would allow the programs to be expanded. The Ambassador added that PACOM was committed to building up to 20 dual-purpose schools and cyclone shelters in the region. The UNHCR Country Representative said her agency was committed to helping students access primary, secondary and even tertiary educational opportunities. In 2007, the GOB had permitted UNHCR to begin adding one extra year of schooling beyond grade five every year, still many students had not reached their age appropriate grade level. Capacity inside the camps was a serious issue and a goal of the DSG would be to have more students attending local schools. Ideally, the GOB would agree to this formally but regardless, it was important to make progress and then to later &cement the status quo.8 Health and safety issues paramount -------------- ¶9. (C) Domestic violence is still a serious problem in the camps, with over four to five cases being reported every month according to UNHCR. At present there are 28 cases of rape pending in the local court system. The local Superintendent of Police pointed out that incidences of rape inside and outside the camp were roughly equal with the incidence of domestic violence and &repression of children and women8 was much higher in the region than elsewhere in the country. Separately, the UNHCR said contraceptive use in the camps is roughly 16%, roughly one-third the national average, largely due to highly conservative religious and DHAKA 00000479 003 OF 003 social attitudes prevalent in the region. The population growth rate, 3.8%, is also significantly higher than the national average but comparable to the region. In some ways, access to health care outside the camps, is worse. After visiting the health clinic, the Ambassador remarked it was important to decrease such disparities. Comment -------------- ¶10. (C) The refugee population faces a number of serious challenges*-health, nutrition, jobs, and education. Rohingyas comprise between one-eighth to one-third of the population in the Cox,s Bazaar District. Bangladesh can ill afford to have such a large population deprived of the basic necessities of life. Though it is too early for a long term solution, the political environment is good for progress on the issue, under the newly elected government. In discussions with the Ambassador, the Bangladesh Foreign Minister acknowledged the seriousness of the problem, adding that there was an international understanding of the issue (Reftel B). For now, the most important thing is to normalize the lives of the refugees as far as possible. For that we will need to need to work with our partners to provide more resources. Post will also continue to work with the GOB to increase freedoms for the Rohingyas. MORIARTY