Risk factors, contemporary challenges and psychological well-being of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh: Policy implications.

Over the last few years, the number of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh has increased exponentially. On arrival, they experience poor mental health and psychological well-being. This commentary explores the risk factors and contemporary challenges that deteriorate Rohingyas' psychological well-being in Bangladesh. The onslaught of Covid-19 compounds the pre-existing psychological health conditions of the Rohingyas living in cramped and flimsy camps. The recent relocation to Bhashan Char may likely trigger tensions and eventually exacerbates their existing psychological well-being. The relocation to Bhashan Char has presumably happened against their volition. Meanwhile, the Myanmar military's coup has added additional fear about their bleak future of a safe and dignified return from Bangladesh to Myanmar. All these have contributed to the worsening of their existing psychological well-being. In order to subside their psychological health challenges, this commentary suggests: (a) the immediate execution of 'National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for Covid-19 Vaccines and initiation of vaccine rollout among the refugees; and (b) involving Rohingyas in economic activities and making them a self-reliant and economically empowered community. We suggest that safe and dignified repatriation is the only solution to the challenges they have been going through in Bangladesh and to preserve their psychological well-being.

Rohingya refugees in the pandemic: Crisis and policy responses.

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how a lack of policy attention has exacerbated the extreme circumstances faced by the Rohingya and how they can contribute to deterioration of their health, livelihood, and education, as well as their repatriation to their homeland. This article is based on data collected from field observations and interviews prior to and during the pandemic. This study confirms that the Rohingya refugee populations endure a higher level of suffering from lack of food security and livelihood, lack of basic amenities and financial resources, and accommodation is overcrowded compared with the pre-pandemic period. The lack of a specific policy for the Rohingya has compounded the current situation in Bangladesh. This research is crucial for countries receiving refugees as well as the countries from which they flee and other actors.