‘Despair, conflict growing in communities hosting Rohingyas’

Recent evidence and findings from various assessments on the Bangladeshi host communities impacted by the Rohingya crisis in Cox’s Bazar indicate growing despair and conflict.

Some of the key drivers of conflict relate to aspects of daily life, including loss of livelihoods, rising prices, falling wages of low-skilled workers, environmental degradation and excessive pressure on an already weak infrastructure and public services. Several stress factors predating the refugee influx have been further aggravated.

The observations were shared during Terre des hommes’ (Tdh) national inception workshop for “USAID’s Youth Empowerment for Social Cohesion (YESC)” held on Sunday.

Representatives from various government departments, NGOs, INGOs and private foundations shared their valuable insights at the workshop moderated by Sudarshan Neupane, field and regional program coordinator for Tdh.

YESC Program Director Delara Hossain said the program’s objective is to reduce the risk of conflict and increase social cohesion.

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They aim to do this by increasing women and youth participation in leadership in their community, enhancing self-care and family stability by working with early married girls and their families, and by enabling vulnerable and marginalized community members to access agricultural value chains through engagement with the private sector and government authorities, she added.

Speaking at the event as the chief guest, National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh Chairman Nasima Begum talked about the tension between host communities and the Rohingya community. 

She stressed the need to focus on Bangladeshi host communities, who are in dire need of support to get back their normal life.

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Derrick S Brown said USAID is supporting Bangladeshi host communities through a variety of development programs from generating livelihoods and improving nutritional status, to protecting vulnerable populations, especially girls and women.

“These are in addition to the humanitarian assistance being provided to the Rohingya refugees,” he added.

Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center President Ejaj Ahmad, Jaago Foundation Executive Director Korvi Rakshand and Multi Sectorial Programme on Violence Against Women Project Director Dr Abul Hossain, among others, spoke during the workshop.