Today 16th May 2021, CCNF (Cox’s Bazar CSO NGO Forum) a network of 50 NGOs working in Cox’s Bazar have organized a virtual press conference title “Joint Response Plan (JRP) 2021, Rohingya Response Management and Strategy, Hardly Fit for the Purpose and Futuristic”. The press conference has organized on the eve of JRP 2021 lunching of 18th May, the plan has prepared by UN agencies in Rohingya response. The press conference was moderated by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury Co-Chair CCNF and Executive Director COAST. Key presentation were given by Abu Morshed Chowdhury Co-Chair CCNF and Executive Director PHALS, Arifur Rahman Chief Executive YPSA, Bimal Chandra Dey Sarker, Chief Executive Mukti Cox’s Bazar, and Mujibul Haque Munir, Joint Director, COAST.
At the outset of the press conference Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said that, during the preparation of JRP / Rohingya response plan 2021 on behalf of local and national NGO representatives they have provided written comments and they have also organized virtual webinar on last 6th May, where local MPs, local government and UN representatives have had participated. But opinions of the locals has little reflected in the document. He also mentioned in last 4 years the ISCG (Inter Sectoral Coordination Group) lead by UN expatriates, hardly been able to produce any statistics on how much fund has gone to host communities, how much money has been used for local procurement and how many local staff have been employed. There are lot of local and national NGO fund still out of the purview of this JRP. IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent) and MSF (Medicine San Frontiers) does not report to ISCG. So, ISCG fit for the purpose is questionable. Moreover, there are no analysis on future, what will be response management if there is no repatriation in next 5 or 10 years. While it becomes an inevitable protracted crisis. As congestion is the main problem CCNF has already proposed pre- fabricated two story shelter, especially while 65 % refugee population are youths, there should be certification-based education, income generating training to refugee families. So that they will not be lured by any terrorism and illegal activities and will not became threats to the ongoing Cox’s Bazar development.
Abu Moshed Chowdhury said that, at present there are three separate line of coordination management, i.e., ISCG, RRRC (Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner) and DC (Deputy Commissioner) office. There should be single line authority for coordination with single pot fund management. A committee consist of three agencies should sit monthly basis with the participation of local MPs (Member of Parliaments), Local government representatives, Local NGOs and media representatives. There should be joint and counterpart system with UN agencies from single office with one step service. Participation of MPs and local government should also in committees in Foreign and Home ministries.
Bimal Dey Sarker said that, it is the UN agencies has prepared the Localization Task Force (LTF) during 2019 to prepare localization road map, the report has finalized and submitted on November 2020, but the report has not yet published. Localization is indispensable for low cost operation and peaceful co-existence, while filed operation will be with local government and local NGOs, UN agencies and INGOs should be limited only monitoring and technical assistance.
Arifur Rahman said that, there should be aid transparency, as CCNF study found that $438 comes for per month for per Rohingya family, but only one third ie, $132 found asset in per family house hold. Only 4%
aid go through local NGOs. There should be system of technical know how transfer, so that there will be no more expatriate by 2021.
Mubjibul Haque Munir said that, a study shown that there are per 21 thousand refugees daily made 3.3 tons of waste, where most are plastics. In Ukhiya and Teknaf there are huge ground water level crisis. So, there should be complete ban on using plastics, and ban also will be on ground water exploitation. River water treatment should be there. There should be environmental recovery pooled fund.
Press Release [Bangla] [English] Position Paper [English]
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