Monsoon rains cause chaos at Rohingya refugee camps

By Dildar Baykan

ANKARA

The monsoon season in Bangladesh has started to affect Rohingya Muslims, who fled persecution in Myanmar’s restive Rakhine state to take refuge in Bangladesh.

"Monsoon’s initial rain have created a chaos in the makeshift camps of #Bangladesh, where more than 800,000 #Rohingya are sheltering since late 2017," Rohingya Vision, an online broadcaster, reported.

According to the Inter Sector Coordination Group (ISCG), 200,000 Rohingya refugees are at the risk of facing landslides and floods while 25,000 are at a very high risk at the camps in Cox’s Bazar.

Mudslides and heavy winds have caused damage to plastic roofs, toilets and bathrooms. The destruction have increased the fear of infectious and transmitting diseases, and contamination of drinking water.

Turkey -- being at the forefront of providing aid to Rohingya refugees – continues its work to provide Rohingya Muslims safer environments during the monsoon season.

The Turkish Red Crescent, Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), and the Turkish Diyanet Foundation (TDV) continue to build bamboo houses in Cox's Bazar’s Kutupalong camp in order to help its residents to tackle the heavy rains and wind.

Rohingya crisis

Since Aug. 25, 2017, more than 750,000 refugees, mostly children and women, have fled Myanmar and crossed into Bangladesh after Myanmar forces launched a crackdown on the minority Muslim community, according to Amnesty International.

At least 9,400 Rohingya were killed in Rakhine from Aug. 25 to Sept. 24 last year, according to Doctors Without Borders.

In a report published recently, the humanitarian group said the deaths of 71.7 percent or 6,700 Rohingya were caused by violence. They include 730 children below the age of 5.

The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.

The UN documented mass gang rapes, killings -- including of infants and young children -- brutal beatings, and disappearances committed by security personnel.

In a report, UN investigators said such violations may have constituted crimes against humanity.