Socio-economic and environmental impact of Rohingya Refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Abstract

In recent times, there has been a significant increase in the challenges surrounding refugees and migrants. In 2017, approximately one million Rohingyas from Arakan, Myanmar sought refuge in Bangladesh and settled in the Kutupalong Refugee Camp in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar. This study explores the various effects of the Kutupalong Refugee Camp, specifically in terms of its social, economic, and environmental dimensions, using the Sustainable Livelihood Framework as a lens. The fieldwork was carried out in two refugee camps located in the Kutupalong area. Information was gathered through in-person interviews with hosts and refugees, while virtual interviews were also carried out with certain INGO workers. The survey was conducted with a focus on the social, economic, and environmental aspect. The refugee camp affects society both positively and negatively. Since INGOs involvement, the hosting community has seen much physical and infrastructural growth. Changes in income, labour migration, and women entering the workforce are transforming the hosting community’s social and economic structure. Transportation and working with INGOs in camp-related activities have given hosting community various income options beyond fishing and farming. Due to the high population density in a compact area, food and other essentials are expensive, affecting middle- and low-income people. As more women are joining the workforce the gender dynamics is also facing transformational changes from a conservative society. However, illegal concerns including sham marriages, forced prostitution, and others are causing social problems. Additionally, there is a decline in the enrolment of youthful individuals in college and high school due to their ability to generate income more easily. Refugee camps have had a major environmental impact. In the beginning, hills and trees were cut down in order to make shelter for the refugees, which had a detrimental effect on the extent of biodiversity. Community gardening, afforestation, sustainable energy resources, and multi-stream waste collection are being used to reduce these detrimental effects. After the refugee influx, the situation of that place has changed drastically. The hosting community is experiencing increased financial circulation, resulting in higher physical and infrastructure development. However, they are encountering difficulties and experiencing a sense of resentment due to the perception that refugees are receiving more benefits than they are. This situation has the potential to generate future complications. The research findings can be applied to improve the living conditions of the hosting community, so alleviating any sense of deprivation they may experience. This will be beneficial for those involved in this industry as well as policymakers. The future research will focus on investigating the effects of different income sources on society, as well as examining the changing roles and empowerment of women. Additionally, it will explore the utilization and impact of sustainable energy sources from an environmental perspective.