Teknaf, Bangladesh: A group of delegates from USAID, RIB (Research Initiative Bangladesh), and some representatives of donor countries including the United Kingdom visited official refugee camps yesterday to observe the situation of refugees who have not received new sheds yet, said one of the schoolteachers from Nayapara camp.
The new NGO RIB will work for the five-year children’s education program in the camp. USAID wants to see the situation and the condition of the refugees’ sheds, which were supposed to have been constructed three years ago in the camps for refugees. Some refugees have received the new sheds, but not all.
Besides, on August 2, a group of delegates from Save the Children Fund (SCF) of the UK and USAID accompanied UNHCR officials and some government officials to visit the Nayapara and Kutupalong official refugee camps and observe the schools and the situation of education in the camps, said another schoolteacher from Kutupalong camp.
The Camp-in-Charge (CIC) Saiful Islam Mujumdar welcomed the delegates, said a refugee committee member from Nayapara camp.
“UNICEF has withdrawn its hand from camp education. In place of it, SCF of UK may be funding the education program in the future. However, it is not clear which implementing partner it will work with. SCF-UK gives funds for implementing education programs, but now the program is being implemented by RTM International, with the funds given by UNICEF for 2011.”
At present, there are ten schools in Nayapara camp with about 4,500 students, and 11 schools in Kutupalong camp with over 3,500 students, said a refugee schoolmaster.
