findings iV: impact of movement restrictions
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Respondents made it very clear that restricting their movement impedes on all other facets of life: freedom from
violence, access to healthcare and healthy living conditions, one’s ability to work and have an income, access to
education, access to food and material needs, and one’s ability to fully participate in religious and cultural life. Each
of these, as they apply to the Rohingya situation in Bangladesh, are discussed in further detail below. Restricting
Rohingya movement has been presented by the Government of Bangladesh as a security measure and justified
underneath claims that the Rohingya community’s basic needs are fully met in the camps via government services
and international aid. Our research suggests otherwise. As things are now, Rohingya report that they must leave the
camps to access the resources and opportunities necessary for them to survive. However, current policies restricting
movement have criminalised this, creating a difficult choice for Rohingya: break the law and risk extortion and violence
at the hands of the authorities, or continue to endure needless suffering created by the Government of Bangladesh.
Survey Responses: impact of movement restrictions
HIGH Impact from
Restrictions
(% of respondents)
Low Impact from
Restrictions
(% of respondents)
No Impact from
Restrictions
(% of respondents)
…Experiencing emotional distress
93.7%
5.8%
0.4%
…Ability to express opinions
openly and publicly
89.2%
6.6%
4.1%
…Ability to access healthcare
83.4%
10.4%
6.2%
…Ability to access
work or livelihood opportunities
82.6%
10.4%
7.1%
…Elevating the risk of diseases
and their consequences
82.5%
10.0%
7.5%
…Ability to
meet family and friends
81.3%
14.1%
4.6%
…Ability to meet
daily consumption needs
71.2%
18.8%
10.0%
…Ability to participate in
cultural traditions and practices
69.7%
25.7%
4.6%
…Ability to access education
62.2%
22.8%
14.9%
…Ability to practise religion
48.1%
36.1%
15.8%
…Ability to access
water and sanitation
31.1%
41.9%
27.0%
the reported levels of impact of
FOM restrictions on...