No help for unregistered refugee victims of the heavy rain

Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh: Over 40,000 unregistered Rohingya refugees living in the Kutupalong makeshift camp are facing many new difficulties following heavy rain, but they are not getting any help from the concerned authorities or INGOs, said an elder from the camp.

“The refugees are not able to go out of the camp to work for their survival after locals attacked some refugees recently. More than twenty refugees were injured.
“The locals and the police are harassing the refugees when they go out of the camp for their needs.
“The police arrest the refugees when they are going to work for their survival.
“The refugees have been facing a food crisis as they don’t get any support from UNHCR, Bangladesh authorities, or INGOs, and they are not able to work for their families’ survival out of the camp.”
From July 17-23, heavy rain and gusty winds destroyed many small huts built from bushes and branches where most refugees live in the Kutupalong unregistered makeshift camp. However, the refugees did not get any support from any quarter, said a committee member.
Recently, many huts of Kutupalong makeshift camp have been destroyed by heavy rain and gusty winds. The heavy rain fall and windy has started again on August 5.
“Now we are unable to rebuild out huts as we have no money or food,” said another refugee committee member. “We are unable to go to work because of attacks by local people.”
“The European Commission (EC) has provided EUR 152,000 as relief for the local people who were affected by heavy rain in the local areas on July 17-23. However, the unregistered refugees who were also affected by the heavy rain are not getting any help form any quarter, said a committee member from the camp.
The EC mentioned that heavy seasonal rains compounded by tidal water occurred on July 17-23 following depression in the Bay of Bengal, which caused an overflow of water from the upstream hills of India and Burma, resulting in some 300,000 people in Cox’s Bazaar district reportedly being affected. Many people have moved to cyclone shelters and school buildings, while some have sought refuge on the main roads with their families and livestock as rainwater has entered into their houses, according to local from Cox’s Bazaar.
The flood has especially added misery to those living below the poverty line. The situation has paralyzed the lives of many people since most of them have had to suspend their livelihood activities.
Daily wage earners and labourers, such as rickshaw/van pullers and agri-labourers, have not been able to work. Women, children and the elderly are potentially the most vulnerable to waterborne diseases.
Household items, including cooking facilities, utensils, and food stocks have been damaged, adding to the misery of the people already struggling to feed their families.
This aid will be used for immediate support to 1,000 families with cash grants of Tk 500 and emergency food rations.
In addition, 3,000 families will be supplied with tarpaulins, and 8,500 jerry-cans will be provided in coordination with other donations.
A total of 5,000 families will receive a hygiene parcel (two pieces of body soap and two pieces of laundry soap), as well as receiving hygiene promotion leaflets and information.
A one-time supplementary standard food ration pack (rice 20 kg, dhal 5 kg, oil 2 litre, and salt 1 kg) will also be provided to those 5,000 families, according to the EC press release.