Rohingya Refugee Camps and Security Threat for Host Country

Abstract

          Almost every Rohingya refugee camp has been subject to some form of violence that poses a security threat to host countries. Bangladesh is hosting 1.2 million Rohingyas in refugee camps in the southern district of Cox’s Bazar. These Rohingyas fled Myanmar’s Rakhine state after brutal military crackdowns in 2016 and August 2017. Various sources have witnessed that Rohingya refugee camps today are places of insecurity and outright danger, both for refugees and relief workers, and, by virtue of their destabilizing effect, for those living around the camps. Due to the presence of refugee warriors inside the camps, refugees are subjected to frequent intimidation and harassment. This paper discusses the challenges faced by Rohingya refugees, especially in camp areas. The research adopted qualitative methods, bulk of the information gathered through the in-depth interview with different stakeholders, while secondary sources such as articles, government and INGOs reports were utilized. The paper concludes with a recommendation to the Rohingya refugee communities, the host nations, and the international community on how to ensure the Rohingya refugees’ right to life, security, and peaceful coexistence at camps.