In 2017 we watched in horror as around 800,000 Rohingya refugees fled genocidal attacks by the Burmese military.
What most people don’t realise is that the majority of Rohingya refugees who fled to Bangladesh were children.
For almost four years these children have been living in appalling conditions. They are in cramped unsafe temporary shelters which have no electricity, running water or toilets. Most have had no formal education. Access to healthcare is limited. No child should be growing up in these conditions.
Part of the reason children are suffering like this is that international donors are not providing enough aid. But the government of Bangladesh also bears responsibility. The government of Bangladesh places severe restrictions on what kind of shelters refugees can live in, and what services aid agencies can provide.
They seem to think that if they allow these children to live in better conditions it will encourage more refugees to come, and encourage existing refugees to stay in Bangladesh.
Rohingya refugees are going to Bangladesh because they are facing genocide, not because they want to leave their homes, farms and villages to live in refugee camps.
The military coup makes it even more unlikely that Rohingya refugees will be able to return home any time soon. Bangladesh needs to change its approach to Rohingya refugees, and start making plans for accommodating Rohingya refugees longer term. They need decent housing with electricity and sanitation, and education and healthcare.
