ee complex is one of the largest in the world hosting almost 900,000 Rohingya refugees. A fire broke out in Camp 5 destroying approximately 400 shelters rendering 2,500 refugees without a home. Children have been reported missing and one four-year old passed away. Essential infrastructure that provides service to the refugees were also destroyed but humanitarian organizations have coordinated to ensure food, protection, and health concerns are met. The origin of the fire is unknown, similar to the fire that broke out in January in Cox Bazar with similar outcomes.
The United States declared the violence against the Rohingya as a genocide. The announcement drew upon similarities between the Holocaust and the Rwanda genocide. The evidence points to clear intent to destroy the Rohingya, a necessary component for an atrocity to be labeled a genocide. The declaration will not bring about significant new measures relating to economics as the United States already poised severe economic sanctions on Myanmar. Although, it will increase the pressure on the junta as the US will supply $1 million additional funding to the Genocide Convention for Myanmar and support the ongoing investigation at the ICJ.
Scabies is a contagious skin disease and cases in the refugee camp, Cox’s Bazar, are on the rise. Cases doubled from 2019 to 2021 and the number of cases continues to rise into 2022. The Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) (i.e., Doctors without Borders) has been aiding to treat the cases but with such an unprecedented spike, medication is quickly running out. MSF resorted to treating those only with severe symptoms which exacerbates the rise of the infection throughout the camps. MSF stated that the cases are linked to the living conditions of the refugees due to the small and inadequate cleaning and sanitation and called for longer-term solutions such as improving their living conditions.
The United Nations stated, “robust and sustained international support” is required to assist the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. The response plan integrated 136 international partners as it called for $881 million to support the refugees.
Rohingya Muslim refugees in India face more danger due to arbitrary arrests, violent assaults, and involuntary repatriation. Approximately 514 refugees in India are being held in detention while others are forced to return to Myanmar as part of violent attacks against Muslims throughout India. Human rights groups criticize the Indian government as they proclaim the deportation of refugees is “cruel disregard for human life and international law”. The human rights advocates claim the deportations violate the principle of non-refoulement which states that those who seek asylum may not be deported to areas they will face persecution. The government defends its position by stating they are not a signatory of the 1951 United Nation Refugee Convention which lays out the legal obligations of hosting refugees and the rights of refugees.
Since 2020, Malaysia has taken a hard-line approach towards migrants and refugees as part of an effort to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. Following a riot, 528 Rohingya detainees escaped Sungai Bakap Temporary Detention Center in Malaysia. Six refugees were killed, including two children, as they were struck by vehicles crossing the expressway. In the aftermath, 362 have been arrested and the police search continues for more.
Rohingya refugee children on Bhasan Char in Bangladesh began to receive immunizations as the “consequences could be deadly” without. It is estimated that well over 10,000 children are on the island of Bhasan Char. The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) provided technical and financial assistance to the government of Bangladesh to promote the program.
In April 2021, ASEAN adopted a “five-point consensus” to treat the situation in Myanmar. At the summit, the ASEAN leaders, including the junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, agreed to five points: immediate end to violence; dialogue between all parties to seek a peaceful solution; appointment of a s