Will go back with safety assurance
Rohingyas who took shelter in Bangladesh said they want to return to Myanmar only after their safety and equal rights including being able to work and travel freely are ensured, according to an Oxfam report.
Oxfam made the report by interviewing 208 Rohingya refugees living in makeshift camps in Cox's Bazar in between September and November.
It launched the report yesterday -- the day Bangladesh and Myanmar formed a joint working group in Dhaka for repatriation of the Rohingyas.
On November 23, the two countries signed an instrument to start the process within two months, and agreed to establish the joint working group within three weeks.
Oxfam unveiled the report titled, “I still don't feel safe to go home”, in the capital's Cirdap auditorium.
While presenting the report findings, Oxfam regional campaign and policy manager Sultana Begum said every Rohingya individual they spoke to, talked about witnessing violence and horror. Some saw their family members getting killed in front of them in Myanmar. “They are traumatised, their wounds are fresh.”
“We are calling on the Myanmar authorities to end the violence and live up to their commitment to fully implement the Kofi Annan-led commission's recommendations, including ensuring that all people in Myanmar have equal rights.”
“Their return has to be safe and voluntary, with a guaranteed freedom of movement.” Also, an independent investigation into human rights violation is essential, she said.
Oxfam Bangladesh Country Director Dipankar Datta said Rohingyas are willing to go back, but not until their equal rights are ensured. In the report, Oxfam changed the names of the refugees. Rofique Zowir, a 30-year-old refugee with four children, in Kutupalong extension camps, said, “If we could live freely like other people and go wherever we want; if you can assure us we would be free, then we could go back.”
Fatima Sultana, a 20-year-old refugee, said, “I want to go back to my home -- when we are treated as citizens, when there is no violence, when women are not tortured and kidnapped, when at last we can be free.”
Also, all the refugees Oxfam spoke to said they felt unsafe at night in the camps. More than half of the groups reported having seen girls and women being approached by strangers. Their families also lost track of some of the girls and women.
More lights, signs and designated safe spaces are needed in the camps to protect them from harm, added the report.
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