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ISCG Situation Report: Rohingya Refugee Crisis, Cox’s Bazar - 31 December 2017

Countries
Bangladesh
+ 1 more
Sources
ISCG
Publication date

Highlights

  • 655,500 new arrivals (Since 25th August) are reported as of 31 December (IOM Needs and Population Monitoring).

  • Since the latest weekly situation report on 17 December, there have been 628 new arrivals.

  • Kindly note that due to the holiday period, not all sectors are represented in this situation report.
    The next full situation report will be issued on 14th January.

  • 655,500 Cumulative arrivals since 25 Aug

  • 548,000 Arrivals in Kutupalong Expansion Site

  • 242,000 Arrivals in other settlements and camps

  • 79,000 Arrivals in host communities

Situation Overview

  • Violence in Rakhine State which began on 25 August 2017 has driven an estimated 655,500 Rohingya across the border into Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The speed and scale of the influx has resulted in a critical humanitarian emergency. The people who have arrived in Bangladesh since 25 August came with very few possessions. They have used most their savings on transportation and constructing a shelter, often out of no more than bamboo and thin plastic. They are now reliant on humanitarian assistance for food, and other life-saving needs. Basic services that were available prior to the influx are under severe strain due to the massive increase in people in the area. In some of the sites that have spontaneously emerged, water and sanitation facilities are limited or of poor quality, with extremely high density raising the risks of an outbreak of disease. The Rohingya population in Cox’s Bazar is highly vulnerable, having fled conflict and experienced severe trauma, and now living in extremely difficult conditions.

  • Population movements within Cox’s Bazar remain highly fluid, with increasing concentration in Ukhia, where the Government has allocated 3,000 acres for a new camp. People have begun arriving at the new, proposed site before infrastructure and services can be established. Crucially there is limited access to the site and no roads through this site; this is preventing the development of infrastructure including water and sanitation facilities.