Reza Mahmud from Cox’s Bazar :
A large quantity of foods for Rohingya refugees is being wasted in government storages due to mismanagement and manpower shortage.
As a result, the refuges are being deprived of sufficient foods, aid workers said
“A large quantity of foods received from individuals and voluntary organisations are being rotten and wasted in government storages in Teknaf, Ukhiya and Cox’s Bazar as the local administration has not sufficient manpower to distribute those among the refugees in time,” said Ahmed Monir, a local volunteer at Unsiprang temporary Rohingya camp in Teknaf.
The Unsiprang temporary camp, now home for more than one lakh refugees, was established on the Eid-ul-Azha day.
On the other hand, Monir said, the refugees in different camps and shelters centre are also sufferings due to shortages of food and other relief items.
Foods like, apple, orange, bananas, puffed rice, chira, rice and sugar were also being wasted due to storages of godowns using to keep those after collecting from the volunteers, witnesses said.
“The fruits are naturally perishable. But the dry foods like rice, puffed rice, chira, pulses, chanachur and sugar are being wasted due to dumping for long and keeping in unsecured temporary places,” said another volunteer preferring anonymity.
During a spot visit at Unsiprang, Thaingkhali, Kutupalong and Balukhali refugee camps and roadside makeshift shelters in different areas, this correspondent found that most of the Rohingya people were hungry due to lack of foods.
The refugees are mostly relying on relief donated by various voluntary organisations. Only a few of the people admitted that they got relief from the administration.
When contacted, the Additional District Magistrate Khalid Mahmud of Cox’s Bazar avoided answering about the food wastage.
He added: “I am suffering from fever and failed to answer your question. Please, contact with our Deputy Commissioner.”
However, the Deputy Commissioner could not be contacted despite several attempts.
Sources said, tonnes of foods and other relief materials are being brought in the areas by different voluntary organizations and individuals every day.
But the relief operations are being done in an unorganized manner since the district administration failed to make the much needed coordination among the aide agencies and voluntary organisations. As a result, all refugees are not being covered by their programme.
