UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, has stated repeatedly at different levels that the repatriation of Rohingyas should be premised “upon the free and informed decision by refugees, on an individual basis, to return”.

The Refugee return should only take place at their freely expressed wish and based on relevant and reliable knowledge of the conditions within the country of origin and the area of return, says the Inter Sector Coordination Group (ISCG) in its latest report.

The report on Rohingya situation in Cox’s Bazar district covered the period from November 13-26, ISCG said on Monday.

More than 14,922 new arrivals were reported from January 1 to November 15, 2018, the ISCG report quoted UNHCR.

UNHCR advised all the partners that they could refer refugees having questions on return to the two UNHCR offices in the Kutupalong and Nayapara Registered Camps, the UNHCR protection hotline and UNHCR protection staff in the camps.

On November 25, Rohingya community outreach members, volunteers and protection partners participated in an array of activities to mark the start of ‘16 Days of Activism’ against gender-based violence.

Rohingya volunteers and groups participated in rallies and marches carrying banners of 16 Days, while Youth Groups in Camp 15, among others, organised matches of their traditional game (chellong) to promote the messages of peace and addressing violence in the camps.

Beginning on August 25, 2017 extreme violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar drove over 700,000 Rohingyas across the border into Cox’s Bazar in span of a few months.

The people and government of Bangladesh welcomed the Rohingyas with resounding generosity and open borders, the report reads.