25 August 2024 marks seven years since conflict erupted in Rakhine State, Myanmar. The events that followed forced over 742,000 Rohingya men, women and children to seek refuge in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
Widely considered stateless, nearly one million Rohingyas now reside in one of the world’s most congested refugee camps. They are hosted by local communities who have opened their doors and lands to this vast displaced population.
Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh do not have formal refugee status. This limits their access to livelihood opportunities and increases their vulnerability. With restrictions on their freedom of movement and right to work, they rely almost entirely on humanitarian aid.
The nationwide civil and political upheaval in Bangladesh during the period July–August 2024 was unprecedented and has had an impact on humanitarian operations in the country. Protection and security risks in the camps have increased. In addition, funding reductions for the humanitarian response have significantly impacted the availability of lifesaving support and protection assistance.
1. Protection and safety concerns in the camps remain high
In May 2024, camp residents reported the highest number of safety and security issues since January 2023. Organised groups linked to the Myanmar conflict and rival gangs exert influence over refugees and their leaders. The likelihood of more people fleeing Myanmar to seek safety in Bangladesh remains high.
Organised groups and rival gangs exert influence over refugees and their leaders
The humanitarian response faces severe funding shortages, particularly for protection activities in 2024. This shortfall significantly hampers efforts to protect vulnerable populations, especially women and children at heightened risk of violence, abuse and exploitation. The protection response must be strengthened and prioritised.
2. Limited opportunities for livelihoods
The Rohingya in Bangladesh still lack legal status, restricting their movement and income generation opportunities, and leaving them almost entirely dependent on humanitarian aid.
Opportunities for higher education and skills training remain limited for youth and young adults, putting this generation at risk of being forgotten.
Income-generation options are scarce, and targeted skills training is urgently needed to improve employability. Special focus is needed to include girls, young women, youth, and people with disabilities in these programmes to ensure everyone has access to opportunities. The absence of opportunities means people are more vulnerable and makes it hard for them to claim their rights, especially for people with disabilities.
3. Climate change is imposing further challenges
The Rohingyas in refugee camps are highly vulnerable to climate change. Their shelters are built on hilly terrain and are made from temporary materials.
Each year, they face increased risks from extreme weather, including flash floods, landslides, and cyclones during the monsoon season.
Residents are at constant risk of losing their possessions
The dry season brings further challenges, with water shortages due to a scarcity of sources, and health issues caused by extreme heat. The congested conditions in the camps put a strain on resources, complicating disaster response efforts. Residents are at constant risk of losing their possessions, including essential documents.
Humanitarian organisations must focus on improved accessible infrastructure, disaster risk reduction, and ensuring people have access to essential services so they can become more resilient to the effects of climate change.
4. Access to services has many barriers
Access to basic services, including sanitation, safe drinking water, healthcare, livelihoods and education, remains limited.
People with disabilities, older people and pregnant women are particularly affected. Inaccessible infrastructure and systems, as well as limited resources worsen these challenges. The hilly terrain and damaged infrastructure in the camps add to the difficulties.
Lack of access to services is the most frequently reported concern among people with disabilities. Consistent communication channels between service providers and the Rohingya community are required to improve access to services.
5. Health conditions in the camps must be improved
Health conditions for Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar are dire. Women and girls lack sexual and reproductive health services, leading to high maternal mortality rates.
Over 25 per cent of children under five are malnourished
The child mortality rate is alarming, with mortality for children under five exceeding 30 per cent, primarily due to malnutrition and preventable diseases. Over 25 per cent of children under five are malnourished, increasing their vulnerability to diseases like cholera, tuberculosis and diarrhoea, which are common due to poor sanitation.
Non-communicable diseases like diabetes affect around 15 per cent of the population.
Improving the health services and addressing the needs of women, children, people with disabilities, older people, and those with chronic diseases are urgently needed.
6. Education strategies need to be adapted to the needs of the youth
Children and youth in Rohingya refugee camps still face limited access to quality education. While there has been progress with the Myanmar curriculum, refugees aged 15–24 struggle due to limited formal higher education and skills-based learning opportunities.
For children aged 12–18, only 46 per cent of boys and 20 per cent of girls regularly attend school
Over 400,000 school-aged Rohingya children live in the camps, with 25 per cent being out of school. Education is crucial to protect children, youth and young adults, as they are easily targeted for abuse and exploitation. Vulnerable groups, including girls, young women, and people with disabilities, are particularly affected.
Enrolment drops significantly for children aged 12–18, with only 46 per cent of boys and 20 per cent of girls regularly attending school. More learning centres and accessible education strategies are urgently needed.
7. Housing and legal rights services must be easily accessible
Rohingya refugees struggle to obtain essential civil identity documents and access their housing, land and property rights. In many camps, undocumented rent payments and agreements leave people vulnerable to arbitrary rent increases and/or evictions.
Evicted individuals, especially women, girls, older people and people with disabilities, face heightened risks of exploitation. There is a critical need for improved access to legal and justice services to protect these vulnerable groups.
