Bangladesh generously shelters about one million Rohingya refugees across 34 densely populated camps in the Ukhiya and Teknaf Sub-districts of Cox’s Bazar District. The massive influx of Rohingya in 2017 destroyed approximately 3300 hectares of forestland, with 2500 hectares for settlement construction and the remainder for cooking fuel and bamboo collection. In response, Bangladesh Forest Department along with partner agencies, initiated reforestation and restoration efforts, covering 720 hectares within the camp areas to regenerate tree cover and stabilise the landscape. To reduce the dependence on fuelwood, aid agencies distributed LPG fuel tanks and stoves tailored to family sizes and introduced pressure cookers to improve fuel efficiency, reduce LPG consumption, save cooking time, and optimise costs. Despite these efforts, ensuring sustainable cooking energy solutions remains a major challenge. Given the significant environmental challenges, this study evaluated the effectiveness of interventions aimed at restoring the landscape, providing sustainable energy solutions, and improving food security for Rohingya refugees in the Kutupalong-Balukhali Mega Camp of the Ukhiya sub-district. A total of 430 refugees, both male and female, were randomly selected and interviewed across 11 out of 23 camps. Our field survey revealed that three environmental and humanitarian interventions improve not only ecological and environmental conditions (greening landscape, land stabilisation, and habitat restoration) but also drive economic productivity (labouring in specific works, selling harvest products) and foster positive social outcomes (community livelihoods, environmental awareness, and social cohesion). These findings underscore the multifaceted benefits of such interventions for both environmental sustainability and the Rohingya’s well-being.

错误:搜索内容不能为空,请输入英文关键词
错误:关键词超出字数限制,请精简
高级检索

Can the Rohingya Refugee Crisis Be Solved Sustainably? Addressing Environmental Concerns in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar

  • Md. Habibur Rahman,
  • Yohei Mitani

摘要

Bangladesh generously shelters about one million Rohingya refugees across 34 densely populated camps in the Ukhiya and Teknaf Sub-districts of Cox’s Bazar District. The massive influx of Rohingya in 2017 destroyed approximately 3300 hectares of forestland, with 2500 hectares for settlement construction and the remainder for cooking fuel and bamboo collection. In response, Bangladesh Forest Department along with partner agencies, initiated reforestation and restoration efforts, covering 720 hectares within the camp areas to regenerate tree cover and stabilise the landscape. To reduce the dependence on fuelwood, aid agencies distributed LPG fuel tanks and stoves tailored to family sizes and introduced pressure cookers to improve fuel efficiency, reduce LPG consumption, save cooking time, and optimise costs. Despite these efforts, ensuring sustainable cooking energy solutions remains a major challenge. Given the significant environmental challenges, this study evaluated the effectiveness of interventions aimed at restoring the landscape, providing sustainable energy solutions, and improving food security for Rohingya refugees in the Kutupalong-Balukhali Mega Camp of the Ukhiya sub-district. A total of 430 refugees, both male and female, were randomly selected and interviewed across 11 out of 23 camps. Our field survey revealed that three environmental and humanitarian interventions improve not only ecological and environmental conditions (greening landscape, land stabilisation, and habitat restoration) but also drive economic productivity (labouring in specific works, selling harvest products) and foster positive social outcomes (community livelihoods, environmental awareness, and social cohesion). These findings underscore the multifaceted benefits of such interventions for both environmental sustainability and the Rohingya’s well-being.