US embassy cable - 05DHAKA3417

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 003417 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2015 
TAGS: PREF, PHUM, BG 
SUBJECT: VISIT TO MAKESHIFT ROHINGYA CAMPS 
 
 
Classified By: A/DCM D.C. McCullough, Reason(s): 1.4 (b),(d) 
 
1. (SBU) On July 15, poloff accompanied a delegation of eight 
donor country diplomats to visit makeshift Rohingya refugee 
camps near the city of Teknaf to emphasize to local officials 
the importance of improving the situation of the 200,000 plus 
estimated Rohingyan refugees living in squalor outside of the 
official UNHCR refugee camps. 
 
2.  (C) The EU ambassador as well as the resident UNHCR 
representative questioned Shahjahan Chowdhury, local BNP MP, 
as to why no progress has been made since their last joint 
visit in December 2004 to move the 12,000 people from the 
Domdomia Kerontoli makeshift settlement to a better location 
for improved living conditions.  Highlighting the  monsoon 
season's ability to destroy Domdomia Kerontoli due to its low 
lying location close to bodies of water, the EU ambassador 
expressed frustration at the lack of action on behalf of the 
BDG even after repeated promises from the ministerial level 
and PMO's office on down. 
 
3.  (SBU) Local officials cited HIV/AIDS health concerns, 
high rates of sex workers amongst the community, and lack of 
response from their offices in Dhaka as explanations for the 
unchanging location of the makeshift settlement.  MP 
Chowdhury claimed that the people in Domdomia Kerontoli did 
not want to move to another location because it would be too 
inconvenient for their fishing livelihoods.  When asked, 
residents were reluctant to say whether or not they favored 
relocation, only that they wanted peaceful and harmonious 
lives. 
 
4. (C) According to a written UNHCR assessment, "There are 
clear signs that the government has no intention to solve the 
problems and to continue to use this small group of refugees 
for political and personal gains." 
 
5. (C) Comment: The exchange with local officials in Teknaf 
underscores the lack of BDG political will to improve the 
living conditions of Rohingyans in and out of the refugee 
camps. 
CHAMMAS