findings iV: impact of movement restrictions 66 Aid Agencies While respondents reported that the assistance provided by aid agencies and other INGOs present in the camps is appreciated, many respondents feel that improvements in camp life could be achieved if humanitarian organisations spent more time and effort advocating for Rohingya rights. Many respondents expressed repeated frustration that INGOs bear witness to the restrictions and persecution that Rohingya are experiencing daily in the camps, yet do nothing about it. However, some respondents acknowledged that aid organisations and other actors are limited in their ability to speak out against abuses for fear of retribution from the government. “There are no organisations who can stand up against the government for us because they are afraid of the government policy and their organisation’s future,” said Zahir, a 25-year-old Rohingya man. “It would be risky for any organisation to go against the government. That’s why everyone kept silent at this moment, they aren’t trying to improve the situation. We are a very unlucky people that we are close to Bangladesh as a country.” 120 When survey respondents were asked if they believed organisations working in the camps are effective in advocating with the government to improve conditions for Rohingya, 39 percent said ‘not at all,’ while 54 percent said ‘a little,’ and only 7 percent said either ‘quite a bit’ or ‘extremely.’ Responses were similar when respondents were asked if they believed the same organisations were working to improve the situation on freedom of movement; 89 percent of respondents said ‘not at all’ or ‘a little.’ It is widely believed that if the aid agencies wanted to do something, they would, and that this “There are no organisations who can stand up against the government for us because they are afraid of the government policy and their organisation’s future,” would be evident by improved policies and living conditions for Rohingya. “There are UNHCR and other different NGOs, but they aren’t doing anything to change the conditions of the camp,” said Shirin, a 29-year-old Rohingya woman. “The humanitarians themselves are witnessing how hard our life has become due to these restrictions and how brutally our people are being tortured by the police. Yet, the humanitarians do nothing to change these problems. The Bangladeshi humanitarians come here and take our pictures. They spread our pictures around the world. These aren’t benefiting us at all. We want support in the world, not sympathy from the world.” 121 The Bangladeshi humanitarians come here and take our pictures. They spread our pictures around the world. These aren’t benefiting us at all. We want support in the world, not sympathy from the world.” 120 121 Interview C27M Interview C12F