APRRN Meets Rohingya Families Cut Off From Food Aid
On Friday, 12 June, Hafsar Tameesuddin, Joint Secretary General of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN), visited Nayapara Registered Camp to meet members of the Nayapara Kutupalong Registered Refugee Union (NKRRU). Scores of refugees attended the gathering, making it one of the largest public discussions yet held on the plight of families whose food rations and other assistance have been suspended following their refusal to undergo biometric re-verification.
During the meeting, community members explained why they had declined biometric registration. Many are long-registered refugees who were originally recognised by UNHCR in the early 1990s and already possess UNHCR-issued identity documents. They expressed concerns about identity, consent, and the handling of their personal data. Speakers argued that these concerns are neither irrational nor uninformed, but stem from decades of experience as a stateless and persecuted people whose identity has repeatedly been challenged.
Refugees also described the consequences of their decision. Around 300 families comprising approximately 2,824 individuals have been excluded from food assistance for many months. Community members reported growing hardship, including food insecurity, loss of work opportunities, and the suspension of administrative processes affecting their families. They questioned why UNHCR and WFP continue to deny assistance when UNHCR’s own registration guidance recognises that individuals may refuse the collection of biometric data on legitimate grounds and that alternative arrangements should be available to ensure continued access to protection and assistance.
For many participants, the meeting carried significance beyond the immediate issue of rations. It represented the first time that a regional refugee rights body had formally engaged with them as an organised community. In a situation where affected families often feel ignored or dismissed, APRRN’s willingness to listen was seen as an important acknowledgment of their concerns and their right to be heard. Whether that engagement can now translate into dialogue with UNHCR and WFP remains to be seen, but for NKRRU members it marked an important step in a struggle that has now lasted well over a year.
Join my WhatsApp Channel for news, documents, videos and images.
Further Reading:
Join my WhatsApp Channel for news, documents, videos and images.