Aid agencies have drafted another Joint Response Plan (JRP) 2020 for humanitarian support worth $ 877 million to Rohingya refugees now staying in Bangladesh. As the process of forcefully displaced Rohingya repatriation from Bangladesh to Myanmar, is being delayed, the aid agencies have drafted another JRP for the third time.
Since 2017, one of the fastest growing humanitarian crises in the history of the world, started the third JRP but for the first time included Rohingya relocation to Bhasan Char, the Island of Bay of Bengal. The relocation is a desire of the Bangladesh Government since 2017 but international agencies have not agreed saying that island is not habitable.
After reviewing by the National Task Force NTF on Rohingya under Foreign Ministry, the new plan will be placed to the development partners in February this year in The United Nations UN sponsored meeting in Geneva. The UN agencies with Bangladeshi officials are now working to finalize the JRP, sources said. The plan is drafted by Inter Sector Co-ordination Group ISCG, the umbrella of all aid agencies including eight UN agencies supporting humanitarian emergency in Rohingya Camps in Cox’s Bazar with RRRC Refugee, Relief and Repatriation Commissioner under Disaster Management and Relief Ministry.
In JRP 2019, ISCG was urged the international community to provide USD 921 million for humanitarian support for one million Rohingyas and some 300,000 affected host community in Coxs Bazar. Till December 2019 USD 620 million which is 67 percent of the requirement, have been received.
Shoikat Biswas, a spoke person of ISCG in Coxs Bazar told Bangladesh Post, “A draft of new JRP for 2020 is ready and it will be sent to the Foreign Ministry for approval. After approval, the plan would be placed at the international donors forum meeting expected in mid-February.”
“In the proposed JRP, it will cost USD 877 million a year to provide the humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya refugees and the vulnerable host community affected by the crisis, ,” He said. “Around 1.3 million people have been offered this humanitarian aid, in this, nearly one million Rohingya refugees living in 31 camps of Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban district and three lakh host communities living around the areas.”
Soikat also added, “The Proposed JRP for 2020 include Rohingya relocation to Bashan Char Island, this is a new feature in the plan compare to previous two.” The new JRP emphasizes on food, education, health and protection of the Rohingya refugees. Bangladesh government has plan to relocate 100 thousand Rohingya to Bashan Char, a newly emerged island of Bay of Bengal. Construction work on alternative housing on Bhasan Char has also been completed at a cost of around TK 3,000 core.
Bhasan Char, possible residence of initially one hundred thousand Rohingya, is the largest Ashrayan (shelter) project in the country, where enough modern living facilities are available. The shelter project is almost complete now, with modern flood control management, sufficient roads including street light, necessary drainage systems, solar power electricity and water supply. In all means, Bhasan Char is a modern city in remote island, now waiting for its residents.
Mahabubul Alam Talukder, RRRC in Coxs Bazar told Bangladesh Post, International agencies have mentioned relocate the Rohingyas in their 2020 plan, will facilitate implementation of the government's plan on Bhasan Char."
