Thousands of Rohingya refugees living in unofficial refugee camps in Bangladesh are suffering from malnutrition and even starvation, according to Nuru who lives in one of the camps.
Food shortages in the camp are being caused by increased border checks by Bangladeshi authorities. Some families haven't eaten for days, according to reports from the camps.
“The camps officials ordered everyone not to go outside the camp,” said Nuru. Border security and even Bangladeshi nationals are harassing refugees who dare to venture outside of the camps. “Most of the refugees have been arrested when they tried to go for work.”
About 200 refugees were arrested by Bangladesh border security in Cox’s Bazar district on April 5, according to refugees living in the unregistered Kutupalong camp.
“The camp officials are not allowing refugees to go out of camps. They say they will feed them if they don’t go to work,” said one refugee committee member.
The refugees living in the unofficial camps are not recognized by Bangladesh government or the UNHCR. The government blocks all international humanitarian aid to these people; they are dependent on work outside the camps for their survival.
According to government and UNHCR figures there are about 72,000 Rohingya refugees from Burma are living in Kutuplong and Leda (Tal) makeshift camps.
The refugees fled to Bangladesh to escape daily persecution and harassment by security forces and the Buddhist community in Arakan state. Unfortunately in Bangladesh they suffer a similar fate.
One camp resident said that they need identification cards so they can seek work without fear of arrest.
