INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
For a Rohingya refugee, food rations are everything
We are not allowed to work
We are surrounded by a barbed-wire fence that stops us moving; goods are hard to bring in for trading and the few jobs there were have been
lost.So food is the resource we depend on the most
Now rations are being cut for the second time in a few months.Our dependence has only increased now we cannot work
allowed by the Bangladesh authorities
So we have to rely on aid given by the World Food Programme (WFP)
rations will be cut to $8
The reduction of $2 brought dire consequences and hardships
It started just at the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, when people normally need more food of better quality.The rations are the
same for every person regardless of age
For other households of grown family members, the ration is insufficient
They find it very difficult when it runs out before the next distribution time
They need to beg or borrow from relatives or neighbours
It continues and rations get more and more insufficient because they need to give back the borrowing monthly as well.Adults and children can
be tricked and trafficked easily
According to the WFP, the reduction is because of a shortfall of funds.A letter explaining the cuts has been published by the WFP
Bangladeshi camp officials informed majhis (camp community leaders) to make sure the news reaches all
The majhis were instructed to ask the refugees not to react or create any problems
life more miserable and create an environment to force them to return to Myanmar.It will lead to more problems and conflicts
Domestic violence increases because of tension in the home
And instead of sending their children to school, more parents will send them to work, to sell vegetables or snacks in order to scrape a few
pennies that can go towards their food
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also the danger of human trafficking
Young people are leaving the camp for Malaysia or other countries because of hardship
A lack of food here will push more to take such risky journeys
Adults and children can be tricked and trafficked easily
less food and more restrictions, under the threat of crime and violence
The camp is already like a prison; refugees ache for freedom
The world has to understand our conditions and needs to act
Yasmin Ara is the founder of Rohingya Women Development Forum
This article first appeared/also appeared in theguardian.com
