UNHCR Bangladesh Operational Update, 1 - 15 November 2018

IN THIS UPDATE:

• Assessment of voluntary return intentions of refugees to Myanmar

• Refugee volunteers completed over 200 projects

• Bangladesh police trained on refugee protection

• Refugees lead the Greening Campaign in Kutupalong

• Field healthcare workers prepare for emergencies

• Registration and verification progress

• Arrival trends

• Quick facts and figures

UNHCR conducted assessments of intent to return to Myanmar among some refugee families in two settlements from 13 to 14 November, upon request from the Government of Bangladesh. The process started after the concerned refugees were informed by the authorities that their names had been cleared for return by Myanmar.
UNHCR shared the findings with Bangladesh authorities. By 15 November, no refugees had expressed their intention to return to Myanmar at this time.
UNHCR is providing technical support to the third round of the emergency health and nutrition survey (the SMART survey) in all refugee sites in Ukhiya and Teknaf sub-districts. Data collection is ongoing until 20 November. The survey, led by Action Against Hunger (ACF) on behalf of the Nutrition Sector, assesses refugees’ health and nutrition status a year after their arrival and identifies underlying factors affecting their nutritional wellbeing.

Assessment of voluntary return intentions of refugees Following an agreement reached during the third meeting of the Bangladesh-Myanmar Joint Working Group on repatriation held on 30 October, the Government of Bangladesh requested UNHCR to assist with an assessment of the intention and willingness of some Rohingya refugee families cleared for return by the Government of Myanmar. In line with UNHCR’s international protection mandate and under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Bangladesh, UNHCR conducted a preliminary assessment of intent among a group of refugees on 13 and 14 November, after they were informed by the Bangladesh authorities that they had been cleared for return by the Government of Myanmar.
On 15 November, no refugee family had expressed their willingness to UNHCR to return to Myanmar at this time. Meanwhile, the Government of Bangladesh demonstrated its readiness to facilitate returns and reiterated its commitment to the principle of non-refoulement and to the voluntary character of repatriation.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has highlighted in a statement that the best way to provide that knowledge to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh is to allow them to go and see the conditions in Myanmar for themselves.
Although UNHCR does not believe current conditions in Rakhine State are conducive to the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of refugees from Bangladesh, UNHCR remains committed to supporting the Government of Myanmar’s efforts to create such conditions, under the terms of the tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by UNHCR, UNDP and Myanmar authorities in June 2018.
UNHCR also remains deeply grateful to the Government of Bangladesh as it continues to generously host Rohingya refugees until they can voluntarily return to Myanmar in safety and dignity.