Unaccompanied Rohingya kids to get smart cards, separate camps

The Ministry of Social Welfare of Bangladesh plans to issue separate smart cards to minor Rohingya children orphaned or separated from their families.

"As many as 1,800 children already received their smart cards," said Social Welfare Secretary Zillar Rahman told a press conference at the Secretariat on Monday, reports bdnews24.com.

State Minister for Social Welfare Nuruzzaman Ahmed was present at the press conference, which was arranged to highlight the ministry’s work on the Rohingya refugee situation.

Separate smartcards are being distributed to unaccompanied Rohingya children at the Prime Minister’s directive, Rahman said. The secretary hopes to separate the 1,800 children from the other refugees within the next week.

“We have requested 200 acres of land in Ukhiya and Teknaf to shelter Rohingya children. Once we have the land we will request the Prime Minister to build a separate camp there,” the secretary said.

 “Those between 13 and 18 years of age are vulnerable. They may become involved in unrest if allowed to remain in the general population. So the government has decided to take measures to separate them from others,” he said.

The secretary outlined plans to house children up to seven years of age at one camp and those between eight and 18 years of age at another once the land is allocated.

 “We want to keep the children away from the influence of the [insurgents]. It is for their good and to maintain peace in Bangladesh,” the secretary said.

Several parents have attempted to register their children as orphans in the hope of receiving special treatment, Rahman said.

 “None of the Rohingya children are in critical condition, they are being looked after. We hope that international pressure will help them return home soon. But they will be supported as long as they are here, according to the prime minister’s orders,” he added.

Over 1,400 unaccompanied minors have been identified since an earlier crackdown in Rakhine state that led to an influx of refugees last October, UNICEF Communication Specialist Sakil Faizullah told the media.

 “We will try to reunite the children with their families. UNICEF workers are going from camp to camp looking for them. We have managed to reunite 51 children with their families so far,” the UNICEF official said.

Faizullah said the government had not discussed its plans to house the unaccompanied minors separately with UNICEF.