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HRW urges Bangladesh to relocate Rohingya refugee camps
Bangkok, Aug 6 (IANS) Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday urged the Bangladesh government to relocate the makeshift camps where more than 7,00,000 Rohingya refugees have been living in overcrowded conditions for over an year.
Members of the ethnic minority fled across the border following an offensive launched by the Myanmar Army on August 25 last year in Rakhine state after Rohingya rebels carried out a series of attacks on government security outposts.
The situation of “severe overcrowding” heightens the risk of “diseases, fires and increased community tensions, as well as domestic and sexual violence,” warned HRW refugee rights director Bill Frelick at the launch of the report “Bangladesh is not my Country: The plight of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar” in Bangkok, Efe news reported.
With the onset of the monsoon rains, the threat of floods and landslides in the refugee shelters of Katupalong-Balukhali near the Myanmar border has increased.
According to Frelick, experts have identified six viable relocation sites that could accommodate 2,63,000 people.
These sites, spread across more than 5.26 square kilometres, are located near where the Rohinyas are currently based, he said.
Frelick said Bangladesh insists the situation is temporary, so it prevents the construction of permanent structures.
Bangladesh plans to relocate 1,00,000 Rohingyas to an uninhabited island, Bhasan Char.
The artificial island is not suitable for accommodating people due to the risk of it being completely flooded by the arrival of a cyclone, among other problems such as the lack of land for cultivation or aquifers, experts have said.
Last week, Myanmar set up a new commission to investigate reports of human rights violations allegedly committed by the military against the Rohingyas.
At the report launch, Phil Robertson, deputy director of HRW’s Asia division, charged that not much can be expected from the commission as some of its members have publicly rejected any violation by the Army.
International organisations including the United Nations have reported killings, torture, rapes and looting and burning of houses among other crimes allegedly committed by the Army.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has described the campaign as ethnic cleansing with suspected acts of genocide.
Myanmar considers the Rohingyas illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and subjects them to various restrictions, including limiting their freedom of movement.
Myanmar and Bangladesh signed an agreement in November 2017 for the repatriation of the Rohingyas, according to which the refugees should have started their return to Myanmar on January 23.
Frelick said that the repatriation will not take place anytime soon.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.