Reuters/AFP/Nick Donaldson
Reuters/AFP/Nick Donaldson
Reuters/AFP/Nick Donaldson
Reuters/AFP/Nick Donaldson


Weekend Essay: Rohingya refugees are being forced to suffer even more


Thomas Andrews
Thomas Andrews
  • English
  • Arabic

March 10, 2023

This week, just a few weeks before the start of Ramadan, a fire displaced 15,000 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar who are living in refugee camps in Bangladesh after escaping attacks by the Myanmar military.

Images of the raging fire captured the attention of people around the world. Unfortunately, an even more dangerous threat to the nearly one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh has generated little to no attention – the lethal impact of international indifference that has led to an unconscionable cut in food rations for the refugees.

Last week the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh were told that the World Food Programme (WFP) had cut their food rations by 17 per cent. Even worse, without a commitment of new funding from the international community, food rations may be cut even further in just a few weeks, forcing the Rohingya to try to make do with food rations valued at $0.27 per day.

The reason for this nightmare is simple – UN member states have short-changed the WFP’s food ration fund for Rohingya refugees by $125 million. The Rohingya, who are commonly referred to as the world’s most persecuted minority, are now being forced to suffer even more.

This week I spoke with desperate families in the camps who had already been forced to cut back on essential food items due to a spike in prices. Indeed, even before the announcement of cuts, food rations were already woefully inadequate for the Rohinyga confined to refugee camps in Bangladesh. Forty per cent of Rohingya children are currently suffering from stunted growth; 51 per cent of Rohingya children and 41 per cent of pregnant and breastfeeding Rohingya women are anaemic; 45 per cent of all Rohingya families in the camps are living with insufficient diets.

Rohingya refugees try to salvage their belongings after a major fire in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, on March 5. AP
Rohingya refugees try to salvage their belongings after a major fire in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, on March 5. AP

WFP staff report that the impact of these cuts could be catastrophic and long-lasting. Malnutrition and adverse health outcomes could spike in the community and the development of Rohingya children could be severely impaired. Perversely, the present rations cuts will drive up future budgetary needs, compelling the WFP to implement supplementary programmes to deal with acute malnutrition.

This is shameful. Many UN member states have offered rhetorical support for the Rohingya. But Rohingya families cannot eat political rhetoric. Frankly, governments that continue to refuse to provide adequate funding for Rohingya food rations should spare us their hollow expressions of concern and support.

For decades the Rohingya have faced discrimination, persecution and violence in western Myanmar. Rohingya women have been targeted with sexual and gender-based violence. They have been systematically denied citizenship and deprived of basic rights, including freedom of movement. Decades of persecution and state-sponsored violence led to attacks in 2016 and 2017 that pushed more than 700,000 Rohingya into neighbouring Bangladesh, where they joined Rohingya that had arrived years earlier. The more than 600,000 left behind in Myanmar continue to be denied basic rights, none more so than the 130,000 who remain confined in internment camps.

The February 2021 military coup further dimmed hopes of a safe, dignified and voluntary return of Rohingya to Myanmar in the near future.

In December 2021, I visited the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh in my capacity as UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. Living conditions were dire. Substandard housing and severe overcrowding threaten the health and lives of camp residents. Armed groups have murdered community leaders, and girls and women face the constant threat of sexual and gender-based violence.

More refugees could soon seek dangerous ways out

Rohingya refugees, unable to leave the camps, told me about restrictions on small-scale economic activities, leaving them entirely reliant on assistance from the international community. I spoke to aid workers who, despite valiant efforts to provide sustenance and support to refugees, were concerned about widespread malnutrition and other adverse health impacts.

The impact of the ration cuts will extend beyond dietary and health concerns. I was told that the cut in food rations has already increased tensions in the camps, making life even more dangerous. Women and adolescent girls are facing the heightened risks of trafficking and forced marriage. Domestic violence may rise.

More refugees could soon seek dangerous ways out. According to the UN refugee agency, last year more than 3,500 Rohingya people made perilous boat journeys across the Indian Ocean to try to escape deprivation in Bangladesh and persecution in western Myanmar. This is a 360 per cent increase over the previous year. More than 300 people are believed to have drowned or died from hunger or dehydration. Thousands more undertook dangerous overland journeys to try to reach Malaysia or other locations. If the rations cuts are not quickly reversed, these numbers are certain to rise as people decide it is better to gamble their lives at sea than slowly starve in refugee camps.

The WFP’s rations cuts are a symptom of world indifference and a chronic underfunding of the response to the Rohingya refugee crisis. In 2022, donors provided only 63 per cent of the $881 million required for humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya. The UN is expecting this unconscionable trend to continue in 2023.

Last week I sent a letter to every UN member state, pleading that they respond to the WFP’s appeal for food ration support and fully fund the UN’s Rohingya refugee response plan. Previous donors to the Rohingya refugee response – led by the US, UK and EU – must reaffirm their commitment to the Rohingya and renew or, even better, increase their contributions.

Those who have failed to provide any support for the UN appeal for the Rohingya in Bangladesh must step up. According to public data made available by the UN, Japan and South Korea were the only Asian countries to provide more than $1 million in funding for Rohingya refugees, contributing roughly $15 million and $2 million, respectively. Members of Asean, the regional intergovernmental body in South-east Asia, are notably missing from the list of donors, outside of a $50,000 contribution from Thailand.

Tragically, member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have provided little to no funding to the UN Rohingya response plan. It was reported that the lone financial contribution from an OIC member to the 2022 Rohingya emergency response plan was a $1 million donation from the UAE.

The OIC has been among the most vocal supporters of the Rohingya. They have demanded accountability for the Myanmar military for its crimes against the Rohingya and lead an annual Human Rights Council resolution on the situation of the Rohingya and other ethnic minorities in Myanmar. In 2019, the Gambia brought a case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice on behalf of the OIC alleging violations of the Genocide Convention in relation to Myanmar’s persecution of the Rohingya.

Vocal support for the Rohingya is important, but thousands of malnourished Rohingya children and their families need action, and they need it now. The fire that destroyed 2,000 Rohingya refugee shelters this week was extinguished. But hunger and desperation, fuelled by world indifference, continues to rage in the camps. It is long past time for the nations of the world to come to the aid of a people who desperately need our support. It is literally a matter of life and death.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKinetic%207%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rick%20Parish%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Clean%20cooking%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self-funded%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Company Profile

Company name: Yeepeey

Started: Soft launch in November, 2020

Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani

Based: Dubai

Industry: E-grocery

Initial investment: $150,000

Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year

 

Company: Instabug

Founded: 2013

Based: Egypt, Cairo

Sector: IT

Employees: 100

Stage: Series A

Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

The Land between Two Rivers: Writing in an Age of Refugees
Tom Sleigh, Graywolf Press

THE SPECS

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch

Power: 710bhp

Torque: 770Nm

Speed: 0-100km/h 2.9 seconds

Top Speed: 340km/h

Price: Dh1,000,885

On sale: now

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

Opening day UAE Premiership fixtures, Friday, September 22:

  • Dubai Sports City Eagles v Dubai Exiles
  • Dubai Hurricanes v Abu Dhabi Saracens
  • Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
The%20Woman%20King%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Gina%20Prince-Bythewood%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Viola%20Davis%2C%20Thuso%20Mbedu%2C%20Sheila%20Atim%2C%20Lashana%20Lynch%2C%20John%20Boyega%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Calendar 2018/19

July 29: OTA Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan

Sep 22-23: LA Convention Centre in Los Angeles, US

Nov 16-18: Carioca Arena Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Feb 7-9: Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE

Mar 9-10: Copper Box Arena in London, UK

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
While you're here
The Penguin

Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz

Creator: Lauren LeFranc

Rating: 4/5

Sweet%20Tooth
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJim%20Mickle%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EChristian%20Convery%2C%20Nonso%20Anozie%2C%20Adeel%20Akhtar%2C%20Stefania%20LaVie%20Owen%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tuesday's fixtures
Group A
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
Iran v Uzbekistan, 8pm
N Korea v UAE, 10.15pm
Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Greatest Royal Rumble results

John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match

Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto

Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus

Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal

Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos

Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe

AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out

The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match

Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match

Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

UAE - India ties

The UAE is India’s third-largest trade partner after the US and China

Annual bilateral trade between India and the UAE has crossed US$ 60 billion

The UAE is the fourth-largest exporter of crude oil for India

Indians comprise the largest community with 3.3 million residents in the UAE

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi first visited the UAE in August 2015

His visit on August 23-24 will be the third in four years

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited India in February 2016

Sheikh Mohamed was the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations in January 2017

Modi will visit Bahrain on August 24-25

Sun jukebox

Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)

This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.

Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)

The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.

Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)

Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.

Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)

Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.

Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)

An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.

Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)

Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.

Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021

Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.

Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.

Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.

Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.

Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.

Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.

Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”

Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI. 

THE BIO: Mohammed Ashiq Ali

Proudest achievement: “I came to a new country and started this shop”

Favourite TV programme: the news

Favourite place in Dubai: Al Fahidi. “They started the metro in 2009 and I didn’t take it yet.”

Family: six sons in Dubai and a daughter in Faisalabad

 

Updated: March 11, 2023, 8:09 AM`