An estimated 22,500 refugees from Rakhine state in Myanmar live in two camps in southern Bangladesh (UNHCR - 06/99). They were among the 250,000 people who originally fled Myanmar in 1992, claiming widespread human rights abuses. Repatriation began in 1992 and by April 1997 some 230,000 refugees had been repatriated. However, the repatriation programme was suspended in mid-1997 and, although a list of 7,000 refugees who wish to return from Bangladesh has been approved by the Government of Myanmar, no schedule has been set for their return.
The Government of Bangladesh does not allow the refugees to undertake employment or income-generating activities. WFP food aid is thus the primary means of meeting the nutritional needs of this population. UNHCR continues to supply other non-food items to the refugees such as soap, kerosene, plastic sheeting and clothing. The sanitation facilities in the camps are adequate and average water use is 21-22 litres/per person/day (UNHCR - 06/99).
A nutrition survey completed in March 1999 by UNHCR revealed an increase in the prevalence of acute wasting to 14.3%, with 0.7% severe wasting. No new information on the nutritional situation of these refugees is currently available to the RNIS.
Priorities and recommendations
· Assess the causes for the increase in the prevalence of wasting.Overall, the refugees in Bangladesh are not considered to be at heightened nutritional risk (category IIc).
