
The new chairman for ASEAN, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, visited Myanmar and met with the leader of the junta, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing. The international community condemned the meeting as ASEAN previously refused to meet with Min Aung Hlaing to showcase their unity and express their disapproval. However after obtaining the chair in ASEAN, Hun Sen expressed his intent to allow Myanmar back into the organization as it is “incomplete” without it. The rest of the members disapprove of Hun Sen’s unilateral action and are concerned with its future actions towards Myanmar, especially due to postponing the planned ASEAN summit.
Under the Bhashan Char project, the Bangladeshi government began to relocate 19,000 refugees to a remote island in the Bay of Bengal due to overcrowding. The island itself lacks proper infrastructure, especially in the face of extreme climate challenges as the island is vulnerable to cyclones and floods. The refugees have limited access to basic human needs and the government holds intentions to add another 81,000 refugees to the island.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reiterated its commitment towards voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees as Myanmar remains high-risk. Thus, the UNHCR expressed the need for longer term solutions such as education, health services, and possible resettlement to a third country. The island of Bhasan Char has undergone improvements for the livelihood of the refugees but has yet to be sustainable. The UNHCR calls upon the international community to support the refugees and the government of Bangladesh.
Replacing the detained Aung San Suu Kyi, the junta’s minister of international cooperation, Ko Ko Hlaing, and the attorney general, Thida Oo, appeared before the UN court to discard of a case against them for their acts of genocide directed at the Rohingya minority. In the preliminary objections, they claimed that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has no jurisdiction over them and must throw out the case.
Cox’ Bazar refugee 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