An endearing unity in a call to support people forced to flee, reinforcing the traditional role of faith communities, dedicated to raise awareness of the situation of refugees throughout the world is being celebrated today as “World Refugee Day.”
In August 2017, the brutal genocide triggered the largest and fastest refugee influx into Bangladesh. Since then, an estimated 745,000 Rohingya including more than 400,000 children have fled into Cox’s Bazar. By walking down to the memory lane, Today Nayapara, Kutupalong, Taingkhali, Balukhali registered camp celebrated the day with one of the grieving slogans, “28 years passed! Where’s life? Please give us either life or death.”
The event started at 10 a. m. and ended at around 1 p.m. Nearly all the NGOs was engaged on celebrating the day with an outstanding contribution by Technical Assistance Inc. (TAI).
The chief guest of Nayapara camp celebration was UNHCR field officer, camp in charge and the high officials of several NGOs. Rohingyas including female and children also took part in the celebration. They started the day with a rally along with handmade banners. Rohingyas distributed T-shirt amongst themselves with their own fund.
Khaleda Begum, A Rohingya female student was on the podium delivered her speech by saying, “I on behalf of all both registered and unregistered refugees, firstly would like to thank the “Mother of Humanity” honourable Prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh government and it’s people for providing us shelters and emergency protection. We are also thankful to iNGO and NGOs for meeting our basic needs. Our refugee status is classified into two categories here – One is registered and another one is unregistered. About 32,000 thousands refugees are registered have been passing refugee life since 1991 & 1992. And the rest are unregistered refugees. Through this celebration, we would like to urge the Governments and International communities the following demands:
Firstly we do not want to live any more a refugee life and we want a durable solution.
Secondly, we want the following minimum pre-condition for repatriation:
1. The Repatriation should be safe, dignified and sustainable with the restoration of our full citizenship as per other people of Myanmar.
2. Local integration and building harmony within the different communities.
Thirdly, if the above option is not possible then we request the world to resettle us to other counties to live a dignified life.
In addition we demand the following two crucial arrangements in the camps.
- We want access to formal education.
- We demand the UNHCR to resolve the severe water scarcity problem for good.
