The spotlight has moved away from the Rohingya; the issue of the ethnic minority facing a purge in Myanmar is no longer an emotive issue.
The Covid-19 pandemic, Myanmar's military coup, the Afghan refugee crisis and recently the Russia-Ukraine war have all cast a pall over the 1.1 million Rohingya refugees who remain in limbo in Bangladesh.
Now funding for the Rohingya is running out, and Bangladesh is bearing the burden of the crisis alone. If this situation continues, international organisations fear that a terrible catastrophe will eventuate.
According to a UNHCR report, only 13% of the $881 million annual response plan for the Rohingya this year has been disbursed up until May and the amount of international aid for next year has been further reduced. In 2019, only 69% of the financial demands were met.
The cost of supporting more than one million Rohingya living in camps in Bangladesh is estimated to cost about $1.21 billion per year, and the cost may rise as Rohingya continue to arrive while overall inflation pushes up the cost of living.
According to the report, housing the Rohingya for the first five years without repatriation would cost more than $7 billion in total.
But in Bangladesh, the issue of refugees is more than about donation funds.
Rohingya have become a source of cheap labour for small enterprises in Cox's Bazar, which is driving wages down and reducing job prospects for the local population. Locals also say that the cost of living has gone up in Cox's Bazar, compounding difficulties.
The drop in international donations begs two questions: "Has the world forgotten about the Rohingya? and "Can Bangladesh bear the strain?"
It is understandable that the Afghan refugee crisis and now the Ukraine crisis need financial donations. But the international community must remember that Rohingya are also refugees and they are still living in camps in Bangladesh.
The Inter-Sector Coordination Group (ISCG), a coordinating body of international organisations working for the Rohingya in Cox's Bazar, has warned international aid to the Rohingya is rapidly declining, resulting in many projects being unable to go ahead.
According to ISCG, $635 million was disbursed in 2021 and most of it was spent on food. That sum only covered 75% of food requirements, not including only 35% of nutritious quality meals being covered. That amount also only covered 66% of the education needs and 36% of health needs last year.
The lack of funds and the lowering in the quality of living could lead to clashes between the Rohingya and the locals. Bangladesh has already warned the international community about this. While the Rohingya who have taken refuge in Bangladesh will be repatriated as soon as possible, there is no date on when this will occur.
Long-term uncertainty about repatriation may encourage Rohingya refugees to engage in criminal activity. Many Rohingya are becoming disgruntled as a result of the prolonged ambiguity surrounding their repatriation.
When the Rohingya discover that there is little support for them, they will become victims of human trafficking, prostitution, and illegal drug dealing. As a result, the entire region might be thrown off balance.
While international organisations are concerned about the funding of the Rohingya, they have no concern for local Bangladeshis. Although 25% of the Rohingya fund has been promised for the locals, very little has been spent on them.
Last year, LPG gas was provided as an alternative fuel for 165,000 Rohingya families. Only 5,000 local families have been given that facility. There is also no international assistance to compensate for the environmental impact caused by providing shelters and resources to the one million-plus Rohingya.
According to the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), a Bangladeshi think tank, Bangladesh must spend roughly $1.21 billion each year on Rohingya refugees, a figure that will rise as the population grows, and inflation rises.
According to the CPD, if repatriation begins, it will take 12 years if 300 Rohingya are returned daily, assuming current population growth remains unchanged. The CPD estimates that it will cost $7 billion to house and support Rohingya refugees for the first five years without repatriation.
A country like Bangladesh, which relies significantly on external debt to finance its budget deficit, will be unable to afford such a massive outlay.
According to the Cox's Bazar Forest Department, 6,500 acres of forest have been occupied by the Rohingya. The damage to the environment and biodiversity is unimaginable. The nature of the land has changed by cutting down the hills.
Divisional Forest Officer Humayun Kabir said that trees are being cut down every day to collect firewood for the Rohingya. The green nature of the area is lost. More than 1 million Rohingya have been living in the area and all activities have been affected. Agricultural land is also being destroyed.
If it continues like this, this area will be unsuitable for human habitation at some point.
Meanwhile, Rohingya going out of the camp are taking away the labour of the locals. Many Rohingya are scattered in different places. They are engaged in various professions. If they are not repatriated quickly, the situation will be dire.
Although the damage in the area is terrible, there is no international cooperation for the locals. Some organizations are crying out for the host community with nominal help. It is not acceptable in any way.
Parvej Siddique Bhuiyan is a security and strategic affairs analyst and has a Master's in International relations from Jahangirnagar University in Dhaka.
