To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Bangladeshi counterpart on (a) fires, (b) the murder of refugee leader Mr Mohammed Mohibullah in September 2021 and (c) the general security situation in the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh.
Answered on
10 February 2022
We are deeply saddened by the recent fires in Cox's Bazar camps. Lord Ahmad, the Minister for South Asia, shared his condolences to those affected by the fire on 9 January. We provided immediate support to the UN to replenish destroyed stoves and cooking gas, and to rehabilitate camp infrastructure.
We were also disturbed by the killing of local Rohingya leader, Mohib Ullah. Lord Ahmad sent condolences after his death in September. The UK provides support to UNHCR, who responded by increasing their staff presence in the camps after Mohib Ullah's murder to ensure vulnerable members of the community have access to protection and assistance services, including psychosocial support.
Lord Ahmad visited the Rohingya camps on 16 November 2021 and stressed the need for better protection for those most vulnerable. We continue to engage with the Government of Bangladesh on the deteriorating security situation for the Rohingya in Cox's Bazar, especially with regards to the safety of women and girls who are living in constant fear of sexual assault, rape and abduction.