findings iV: impact of movement restrictions
“If the government made it easier for us to live, we could live easily and
peacefully. Because of the restrictions, even a good person is becoming
bad. When he doesn’t get any chance to work, he stays upset and broken.”
Rohingya respondents. Rohingya reported that, due to restrictions on movement and work, they are not
able to provide sufficient food to their families, purchase essential medicines, or provide for childrens’
education expenses. “We feel helpless when clinics simply give us a prescription,” said Aziza, a 38-year-old Rohingya woman. “We run out of food for the rest of the month after selling some of the rations to buy medicines.” 107
Many respondents reported that the stress from lack of work has put the community on a dangerous
path as many connect it to increases in domestic violence, crime, and gang activity in the camps. 108
“If we had opportunities and income sources to live here, murders or conflicts wouldn’t appear among us,” said Hassan, a 30-year-old Rohingya man. “There would not be any
issues among us, and our people wouldn’t be imprisoned for any crimes. We could stay peacefully. People don’t have problems once they are busy with their respective work.” 109
A few respondents, reflecting on the situation related to livelihoods and the impacts of the
restrictions on their community, reported that the extreme restrictions were a clear violation of their basic human rights. “Since I am not allowed to have any income sources, it’s a kind
of violence and a rights violation on me,” 110 said Yusuf, a 36-year-old Rohingya man.
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Interview C25F
Other research conducted previously with Rohingya in the Bangladesh camps has demonstrated significant associations between access
to employment and decreases in mental distress. Allowing Rohingya to work has the potential to both improve Rohingya health and
make the camps a safer place to live. Frontiers in Public Health. Associations Among Past Trauma, Post-displacement Stressors, and
Mental Health Outcomes in Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh: A Secondary Cross-sectional Analysis. 2023.
Interview C10M
Interview C11M
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