Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh: Word Refugee Day was postponed in Burmese refugee camps of Nayapara and Kutupalong in Bangladesh, which was to be held on June 20, said a refugee leader from camp.
Right now, as war and violent conflict rage around the world, people just like you are running — for their lives, their families, their dignity and their freedom. They often have to leave everything behind. And they leave with nothing but their hope, courage and determination. They are refugees.
On June 20, 2010, across the world, refugees observed “World Refugee Day” and also the International Rescue Committee joined the United Nations in its annual salute to the courage of refugees.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports that millions of refugees and internally displaced persons are languishing in vulnerable condition in different parts of the world. Among them, reports of Rohingya Arakanese refugees in different countries and their long standing problems remain unclear and uncertain. The situation of the Rohingya refugees in different places is deteriorating by the day. Now, they are the victims of multifarious human rights violations both in their home (Arakan State, Burma) and countries of exile.
Today, Bangladesh hosts approximately 28,000 Rohingya refugees in the two camps of Kutupalong and Nayapara. The remaining Rohingya refugees want a long-lasting solution and are not willing to go back to Burma without citizenship rights and human rights being assured. They could not observe the “World Refugee Day” in the refugee camps, said a committee member on condition of anonymity.
“We, Rohingya refugees would have been very happy to be able to celebrate “World Refugee Day” in the refugee camp on June 20, but unfortunately it was postponed by the concerned authorities of Bangladesh”, said a refugee from Nayapara refugee camp.
A refugee from Kutupalong camp said, “We are very disappointed that we could not celebrate “Word Refugee Day” in the two camps this year and also we could not enjoy our rights.” Where are our refugee rights?
In 2009, the Rohingya refugees could celebrate “World Refugee Day” in the Burmese refugee camps without any restriction, he added.
According to sources “the World Refugee Day” celebration was postponed on the southern side of Bangladesh because of heavy rains and landslides.
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