As part of its work monitoring humanitarian situations, the International Development Committee (IDC) has conducted a series of written Q&A with selected witnesses on the Rohingya crisis, where over 800,000 people are displaced and living in camps in Bangladesh.
Due to current restrictions on meeting, the Committee sought updates through correspondence with selected organisations, including UNHCR, Burma Campaign UK, Save the Children and the Department for International Development (DFID). It is clear the situation remains incredibly challenging for the Rohingya, most of whom have been living in camps for over two years, with no signs of a political solution in resolving the crisis.
The Rohingya were already facing severe limitations to their freedom of movement from fencing being installed by the Bangladeshi authorities around their camps. The lockdown imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic has now restricted available services to basic nutrition, hygiene and basic medical care but social distancing remains an impossibility due to the sheer density of people living side by side in cramped, makeshift housing.
Further, the continuing mobile data ban imposed by the Bangladesh authorities is severely limiting information-sharing on how refugees can protect themselves against infection and when and how symptoms should be reported. A coronavirus outbreak would be catastrophic for the region, particularly because there are reportedly no ventilators to help treat people.
The lockdown is also likely to exacerbate the existing huge problem of gender-based violence in the camps. While some progress had been made with support for victims and improved access to legal services, containment measures for COVID-19 is disrupting availability and development of these initiatives.
International Development Committee Chair, Sarah Champion MP, said:
“We have all been horrified with the humanitarian situation faced by the Rohingya, with hundreds of thousands of displaced people unable to go home.
“From high levels of gender-based violence, to minimal healthcare offered within camps, these undoubted refugees are continuing to suffer in incredibly challenging conditions. This has been exacerbated by measures to limit the spread of coronavirus, such as imposing lockdown within camps, and hard fought for progress – such as some education and mental health support – has been halted.
“The plight of the Rohingya may no longer be dominating news headlines. But the IDC feels a responsibility to continue to highlight the immense suffering of the Rohingya in Myanmar and Bangladesh, and now more than ever, the need for a political solution is even more pressing.”
The IDC’s evidence indicates that the UK Government is becoming more vocal on the human rights abuses orchestrated by Myanmar military and security forces. Reference was made to the UK’s welcoming of the provisional measures indicated by the International Court of Justice to protect the Rohingya, which includes preventing genocidal violence. However, there continues to be concern at the lack of sanctions targeted at named military-owned companies and senior military commanders in Myanmar. Some organisations have called for a global arms embargo and a review of official development assistance going to, or through, the Myanmar regime.
Evidence from DFID demonstrates the UK Government’s agreement with the UN Fact Finding Mission that the Myanmar military bears the greatest responsibility for human rights violations in Rakhine State. DFID outlines the UK’s involvement in seeking a resolution to the crisis and shares its intention to establish an autonomous global human rights sanctions regime, which could be used in the region.
The Committee is considering the case for issuing a short report on the current situation of the Rohingya people in response to the distressing evidence it has received.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Committee membership is as follows: Sarah Champion MP, Chair (Lab, Rotherham), Richard Bacon MP (Con, South Norfolk), Brendan Clarke-Smith MP (Con, Bassetlaw), Theo Clarke MP (Con, Stafford), Pauline Latham OBE MP (Con, Mid Derbyshire), Chris Law MP (SNP, Dundee West), Ian Liddell-Grainger MP (Con, Bridgwater and West Somerset), Navendu Mishra MP (Lab, Stockport), Kate Osamor MP (Lab, Edmonton), Dr Dan Poulter MP (Con, Central Suffolk and North Ipswich), Mr Virendra Sharma MP (Lab, Ealing, Southall).
Specific Committee Information: [email protected] 020 7219 1223
Media information from Chloe Jago: [email protected] - 020 7219 1034 and 07710 064583
Committee Website: www.parliament.uk/indcom
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