According to UN sources, the humanitarian situation in southern part of Bangladesh sheltering hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees continues to deteriorate. The crisis has resulted in huge shortage in humanitarian needs in an area already affected by earlier refugee influxes — making it the worst in recent history. It apparently seems, fleeing in Myanmar may have saved the lives of lakhs of Rohingyas, but with little to gain in terms of receiving basic humanitarian assistance in Bangladesh. Their plight has just shifted from one level to another but reduced.
Moreover, a dishonest quarter is squeezing-out helpless Rohingyas, who are fleeing from violence in Myanmar, in the name of letting them entry into Bangladesh. Promising accommodation in camps, a quarter is even making a quick-buck from the helpless refugees. A number of boat owners are reportedly exploiting the situation in exchange for what the ill-fated Rohingyas can afford to give them – money, jewelleries, domestic utensil and what not.
On one hand the government is markedly failing to tackle the influx of refugees, while on the other it is also failing to fairly distribute relief materials. More than any time before, aid and donor agencies should become more pro-actively engaged in addressing the looming crisis. So far the army’s engagement on the Rohingya crisis has been specified and limited, but coupled with the regular law enforcement agencies it will have to widen the scope of its activities, meaning clearly engage in relief distribution and ensure law and order situation by stopping the middlemen group from exploiting the plight of refugees.
There must be central control for ensuring help and care.
