EU looking for durable solution to Rohingya refugee problem

Sunday July 17 2005 11:48:51 AM BDT
From Govinda Shil

COX'S BAZAR, July 16:

The European Union is looking for a durable solution to the Rohingya refugee problem and will support any government move to allow the refugees to form their own community in Bangladesh for a longer period.

The EU thinks more than 10,000 of the Rohingya refugees may face a human disaster anytime as they are living in makeshift camps, without potable water, food and proper sanitation system. Those refugees entered Bangladesh nine months ago, many of them for the second and third time, to escape ethnic persecution in Myanmar."If those refugees decline voluntary repatriation, they have rights to stay here," said Esko Kentrschynskyj, EU Ambassador and the head of EU delegation.A total of 20,500 refugees have been sheltered in two of the United Nations High Commission for Refugee (UNHCR) camps. But those who came last year are residing in makeshift camps. The government is yet to hand over to the UNHCR.A total of 1,740 families are living in those temporary camps, made of polyethylene sheets, hard boards and bamboos.

The situation of women and children are quite vulnerable as they starve most of the time and do not have access to safe drinking water. Many of the families have three to five and in some cases more than seven children. Their miseries are getting multiplied because of rains that cause inundation in the camps.Senior diplomats and officials of the High Commissions and envoys of Canada, EU, USA, Italy, Norway and Australia visited the makeshift camps at Kerontoli village under Teknaf thana Friday.The EU Ambassador said these 10,000 refugees must be taken to a better place immediately to ensure better living condition for them.

Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh David Sproule was appalled to see the inhuman conditions refugees were living in. The entire camp area was badly stinking, there was no water, the paths were muddy and floors of the camps were damp."The first priority is to shift these people to a place where we can give them safe drinking water and sanitation facilities," said Sproule adding, anybody would get sick in this situation.

The UNHCR is looking for government approval to take them to their own facilities for which many donors are ready to pay for the expenses.The Country Representative of UNHCR, Christopher Lee, said he is looking for government decision to give these people "refugee status" and provide them some humanitarian assistance.
The Financial Express

plz check it out: http://www.bangladesh-web.com/news/view.php?hidDate=2005-07-17&hidType=BAE&hidRecord=0000000000000000052809