VZCZCXRO3029
RR RUEHCI
DE RUEHKA #1220/01 2070909
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 260909Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4619
INFO RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 9202
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 8027
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1754
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0054
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 8095
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 0849
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0536

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 001220 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE/PRM FOR: EILEEN SEN; EMB BANGKOK FOR: JESSICA ADLER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PREF BG
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT PREPARES TO MOVE ROHINGYAS FROM TEKNAF 
MAKESHIFT CAMP 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Plans to move nearly 10,000 illegal 
Rohingya refugees from a makeshift camp to higher ground are 
moving apace, according to representatives of the Ministry of 
Food and Disaster Management.  The situation in the two 
official refugee camps has improved, particularly with 
regards to shelters and internal camp governance.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
TEKNAF CAMP MOVE NEARLY READY 
============================= 
 
¶2. (SBU) In a meeting with representatives of the Ministry of 
Food and Disaster Management (MFDM) on July 17, we received 
an update on the government's plans to move approximately 
10,000 illegal Rohingya "squatters" from a makeshift camp on 
the Naf River floodplain in Teknaf, south of Cox's Bazar to 
higher ground.  Deputy Secretary Mohammad Ahsanul Jabbar, who 
heads the MFDM Rohingya Cell, told us the new location is 
seven kilometers closer to Cox's Bazar, and is safely away 
from the river. The last approval they are waiting on is from 
the Forestry Department, which controls the land. Jabbar said 
it should be coming within the next two weeks. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Once approval by the Forestry Department is granted, 
the government will begin work on drainage and sanitation. 
Jabbar estimates that work will take approximately one month. 
 He is hoping the Rohingyas can begin moving to the new 
location by end-August or early September, though he admitted 
it might be too optimistic. 
 
¶4. (SBU) While the arrival of the monsoon season increases 
the risk of the present location flooding, it also makes the 
move logistically more complicated. The European Commission 
has promised aid to help resettle the Rohingyas, and United 
Nations (UN) agencies and non-governmental organizations like 
Medicins sans Frontieres (MSF) are also working closely with 
the government on the move.  Because this is not an 
"official" Rohingya camp, UNHCR's formal role is limited, but 
it is providing advice and coordinating with the government. 
 
CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT, UN 
========================================= 
 
¶5. (SBU) The relationship between the Bangladesh government 
and international organizations and NGOs is continuing to 
improve, according to Jabbar.  He expressed satisfaction -- 
even gratitude -- to the work of UNHCR in the two official 
camps, and said the government is committed to working with 
organizations to improve refugee conditions.  He specifically 
cited the new shelters being built at Kutapolong and Nayapara 
camps, as well as the education and training programs being 
started up. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The new local MFDM representative (the Refugee 
Relief and Repatriation Coordinator -- RRRC) has worked to 
revamp the relationship with the local UNHCR office and to 
improve internal camp governance.  Jabbar acknowledged 
unspecified "problems" with the previous RRRC who stepped 
down in August 2006.  Under the new one, the relationship 
with the local UNHCR office and the camp leadership has been 
"transformed." 
 
LOCAL CAMP GOVERNANCE CONTINUES TO IMPROVE 
========================================== 
 
¶7. (SBU) A new "majlis" (local chiefs) system has been 
introduced.  Many former majlis were appointed by the old 
RRRC, and were distrusted by the camp population.  Some 
government officials were alleged to have extracted bribes 
from the old majlis, who in turn took the money from camp 
residents.  Under the new system, majlis are chosen either by 
an informal but direct election, or with strong input by the 
camp population.  "We can't say corruption is no longer 
present, but it is much, much less than before," according to 
Jabbar. 
 
WORLD REFUGEE DAY AN "UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS" 
============================================ 
 
¶8. (SBU) In separate conversations, UNHCR's country 
representative Pia Pritz Phiri has endorsed Jabbar and 
expressed satisfaction with this new relationship with the 
government.  At a recent meeting, she described how UNHCR 
 
DHAKA 00001220  002 OF 002 
 
 
celebrated World Refugee Day on June 20 in the camps for the 
first time.  The government advisor responsible for MFDM, 
Tapan Chowdhury, was present, as were several other 
high-level officials.  They spent time mingling with the 
refugees and hearing their concerns -- something 
unprecedented and "difficult to imagine" a year ago, 
according to Pritz-Phiri. 
 
COMMENT: PROGRESS CONTINUES APACE 
================================= 
 
¶9. (SBU) The change in heart by the government actually 
started under the last government, after increased pressure 
by diplomats including the Ambassador.  The interim 
government has taken this cooperation to new levels, however, 
and demonstrated a commitment to relieving at least the 
immediate humanitarian concerns that have made the Rohingya 
camps among the worst refugee camps in the world, according 
to the UN's own assessment. 
 
¶10. (SBU) Timelines often slip in Bangladesh, however, so we 
will monitor the move from Teknaf closely and keep up our 
regular meetings with the government frequently to 
demonstrate our continued interest in the situation. 
PASI