MSF calls for unhindered humanitarian assistance for all Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh
Since the beginning of the year Rohingya refugees have been arriving in Bangladesh after escaping escalating violence in Myanmar. They now face immense challenges, including overcrowding, lack of access to essential services and deteriorating mental health conditions. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is urging the relevant authorities to ensure unhindered and immediate access to humanitarian assistance, care and protection for all Rohingya refugees.
Thousands of Rohingya refugees have arrived in Bangladesh in recent months, while others have been pushed back or detained while trying to flee Myanmar. Those who managed to get to Bangladesh have described their horrific journeys to our teams, which often include witnessing loved ones dying in front of them, having to sell their remaining possessions or being forced to incur significant debts to cover the risky journey. Others told us how they desperately tried to cross the border to find safety – a feat that sometimes took them several days.
“People have shared with us that they are afraid to seek assistance as this might put them at risk of being exploited or even returned to Myanmar.”
Orla Murphy, MSF country director in Bangladesh
In the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, access to food is an issue. People already living in the camps say they are sharing their food rations and space with newly arrived family members who don’t have access to services like shelter, water and sanitation. People newly arrived also lack protection from abuse, exploitation and neglect, especially girls, boys and women.
Since July, MSF has seen an increase in the number of children under five with moderate and severe malnutrition. This is especially an issue for new refugees, as access to food and healthcare in Myanmar has been almost non-existent for them. The persistent under-resourcing of the humanitarian response has also severely hampered the availability of essential services, making it difficult for newly arriving Rohingya refugees to get all the humanitarian services they need. While efforts to make registration accessible for Rohingya refugees are critical, delays in this process should not be an impediment to providing immediate attention.
Our teams are treating the newly displaced Rohingya in the camps, including critically ill patients and people war-wounded with mortar shell injuries and gunshot wounds.
“People have shared with us they are afraid to seek assistance as this might put them at risk of being exploited or even returned to Myanmar,” says Orla Murphy, MSF country director in Bangladesh. “Our mental health teams in particular see how people are grappling with the violence they witnessed back home and how the lack of access to available humanitarian services has created an uncertainty that is further exacerbating their trauma. We are seeing newly arrived Rohingya showing symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression.”
“The sounds of heavy fighting still echoing from Myanmar serve as a constant reminder of the violence we fled,” says 21-year-old Solim*, a Rohingya refugee. “Even within the camps, tensions can run high, and the fear of further violence is ever-present … I escaped the violence from Myanmar, but I can’t escape the fear. My heart races at every loud sound.” Solim arrived in Bangladesh in July, with physical injuries and intense psychological pain from his journey.
While Bangladeshi authorities have recently committed to addressing the most urgent needs of Rohingya refugees in the camps, more must be done immediately so all people arriving in the country can access essential services such as food, water, shelter, healthcare, education and protection.
MSF calls for unhindered access to humanitarian assistance, care and protection for all Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. MSF also urges all relevant authorities to ensure that no-one is returned to a place where they face serious harm. The principle of ‘non-refoulement’ is enshrined in international law, prohibiting the return of individuals to a country where they may face persecution, torture or other serious human rights abuses.
*Name changed to protect identity.
