The new president of Caritas Bangladesh (CB) Most Reverend Bishop James Romen Boiragi and Executive Director (ED) Sebastian Rozario on Monday visited Kutupalong camp that has been sheltering Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs) or Rohingya refugees in Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar.
“Rohingya people are the most vulnerable communities now in this region,” said CB President while talking to Rohingya people and their leaders. “We want peaceful repatriation of Rohingya community to their motherland,” he added.
CB President visited Camp-4 and Camp-4 extension in Ukhiay where Caritas Bangladesh has been providing various facilities to FDMNs since the massive influx in 2017.
During the visit to Rohingya Camp-4 and 4-extension, CB high officials spoke to the camp-in-charge Md Mahfujar Rahman (deputy secretary).
“Caritas Bangladesh is the pioneer organisation in protecting the environment here and started tree plantation activities and distributed LPG cylinders to stop deforestation,” CB President added.
Talking to CB President, Md Obaidul Haque, a Majhi (camp-wise leader of Rohingya people) of Camp-4, said “We’re happy here in this Camp but we want to return to our motherland ultimately.”
Caritas Bangladesh’s Emergency Response Program (ERP) Project Director Marcel Ratan Guda; Head of Operation of ERP, Inmanuel Chayan Biswas; Camp Coordinator Paritosh Chakrabortty, among others were present there, among others.
CB Executive Director Sebastian Rozario, said “Beside helping the Rohingya community, Caritas is supporting the host community in Cox’s Bazar district as well.”
ERP Project Director Marcel Ratan Guda, said “CB has installed solar streetlights in Rohingya camp to protect the environment and stop deforestation in the area.”
ERP Head of Operation Inmanuel Chayan Biswas, said “Caritas Bangladesh has initiated to provide monetary aid to about 1,056 families of the host community in the district to cope up with the changed situation due to Covid-19 pandemic.”
The officials of Caritas Bangladesh visited the activities such as site improvement, construction of brick pathway, repairing of existing shelter and construction of new houses for relocated Rohingyas. Besides they visited activities at Multipurpose Children & Adolescent Centre (MCAC), Multipurpose Women and Girls Center (MWGC).
Caritas Bangladesh started working widely for Rohingya people in Cox’s Bazar since the massive influx in August 2017, through providing Shelter, non-food items including site improvement, WASH, protection, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and livelihood facilities in 12 camps in Ukhiay Upazila in Cox’s Bazar.
Besides, CB has been executing several activities for the host community. Caritas Bangladesh has started celebrating its 50-year founding anniversary in Cox’s Bazar.
