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Editorial

Dire environmental impact of Rohingya influx

Cox’s Bazar ecological balance at stake


Bangladeshpost
Published : 07 Nov 2020 06:33 PM | Updated : 08 Nov 2020 01:06 AM

The influx of the displaced Rohingyas has been causing extensive damage to forest resources of the Cox’s Bazaar region. A recent report has revealed that Rohingyas have encroached on a total of 8000 acres of forestland in the Cox’s Bazaar region.

Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.2 million forcefully displaced Rohingyas staying in Cox’s Bazaar District. The majority clusters are located in the forests around Kutupalong, which has become one of the world’s largest refugee camps. Once an area of thick greenery, Kutupalong has become a sea of plastic tents propped up against each other.

Experts are of the opinion that different types of relief materials are being distributed among the displaced Rohingyas but they are not provided with firewood for cooking purposes. As a result, the refugees are cutting down trees indiscriminately from nearby government forests and even uprooting the roots in their desperate search for firewood.  What is more alarming is that some private and international donor agencies are engaged in cutting hills to build permanent structures for offices and quarters, thereby further threatening local forests and environment.


If the environmental impacts of the 

influx continue unmitigated, the already heavily 

polluted environment will soon suffer 

significant damage and degradation


According to a rough estimate, the Rohingyas are destroying forest resources to meet their daily demand of firewood of 800 tons. Considering this, the government should look for alternative options like LPG or low-cost coal for the displaced Rohingyas.

If the environmental impacts of the influx continue unmitigated, the already heavily polluted environment will soon suffer significant damage and degradation, substantially reducing the habitat’s ability to maintain viable populations of its native species and losing its ability to sustain its ecosystem.

The situation demands immediate investments in restoring the environment and ecosystem as part of the government’s humanitarian response in Cox’s Bazaar. Also there is a need to implement various mitigation programmes to prevent the environment from further degradation.