Ukhiya, Cox's Bazaar: Refugees are staring starvation in the face and living under the open sky near the Kutupalong official camp for nearly one week, said Noor Hussain of the refugees.

They are unofficial refugees who are living near Kutupalong refugee camp after being relocated from local areas when Bangladesh authorities were finalizing the voters list which excluded Burmese nationals.

 

These refugees did not get jobs locally because of heavy rains this week. Neither do they have any support from any quarter. About 70 percent of the refugees are going to starve due to scarcity of jobs, said another refugee.

 

More of the refugees are widows and orphans.

 

For instance, Nur Ayasha (30), wife of Khadir Hussain, who died in Burma, crossed the Burma-Bangladesh border with four girls and one boy. They have been starving since last week. She feeds her family members by begging but due to heavy rain last week she was unable to seek alms from people.

 

Kalam refugee said, "We are living in huts without strong roofing, so during heavy rain or strong winds our roofs get blown off or tear. Refugees including boys and girls are catching cold and becoming sick afflicted by malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia, odema among other diseases".

 

These people are not recognized by the UNHCR as refugees as the host country mounts pressure on it. Bangladesh fears that if these people are recognized as refugees there will be more refugees coming from Burma, said an elder refugee living under the open sky said.