Operations

Operational context and population trends

Registered refugees in Bangladesh continue to face restrictions in their freedom of movement and access to formal employment, full secondary education, vocational training and basic social services. Consequently, refugees in Kutupalong and Nayapara camps are highly dependent on aid. Conditions inside the camps are very challenging, with severe overcrowding, insufficient public utilities and limited services. 

As of 31 December 2015, there were 31,879 registered Rohingya refugees in Kutupalong and Nayapara camps. In addition, a growing population of more than 200,000 unregistered refugees are residing outside the camps in Cox’s Bazar and neighbouring districts, as well as in makeshift sites adjacent to the official camps. 

UNHCR also monitors the situation of people in Bangladesh at risk of statelessness. Although the number of individuals at risk is unclear, UNHCR is looking in particular at Urdu speakers who may encounter difficulties (or in some cases refuse) to avail themselves of Bangladeshi citizenship despite the 2008 High Court ruling, as well as cases of children of mixed parentage. 

Key priorities in 2016

The main priority for UNHCR in 2016 is to secure durable solutions for refugees living in Bangladesh. Resettlement activities remain suspended, although the Government has announced its intention to resume the resettlement programme. For the unregistered Rohingya population, UNHCR will continue to advocate to initiate the Government’s ‘listing’ exercise, and ensure that all unregistered Rohingya receive legal status.

For registered refugees in camps, UNHCR’s focus will be on: 

• Maintaining the provision of non-food items (NFIs) and access to basic services like health care, WASH, nutrition and domestic items; 
• Improving access to justice, especially for survivors of domestic violence; 
• Encouraging community mobilisation and self-management initiatives; 
• Expanding access to secondary education;
• Maintaining camp infrastructure; 
• Enhancing women’s empowerment; 
• Strengthening child protection and SGBV mechanisms; 
• Maintaining a harmonised UNHCR-Government database through on-going registration activities and capacity-building activities for key stakeholders. 

For the unregistered refugee population, UNHCR will prioritize:

• Advocating for international protection standards, including legal status, through the implementation of the national strategy on undocumented Myanmar nationals; 
• Access to justice for survivors of SGBV and trafficking through UNHCR and its partners; 
• Liaising with UNICEF to ensure birth registration for new-borns from the unregistered Rohingya population and access to primary education.