Today, Wednesday, a United Nations delegation begins a three-day visit to a remote island in the Bay of Bengal, where Bangladesh has transported more than 13,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees since December, despite criticism from human rights groups.
Bangladesh aims to transfer 100,000 of the more than a million refugees who live in crowded camps on the border to the island of Bashan Shar, which was formed in the sea just two decades ago and is considered vulnerable to floods.
"This initial three-day visit will include experts from United Nations agencies dealing with Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh," the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees told Reuters by email.
"This visit will look at the current situation and facilities in Bashan Shar, assess the needs of the Rohingya refugees who have been transferred there, and will also discuss with the authorities and the rest of the parties currently working in Bashan Shar," she added.
The United Nations said earlier that it was not allowed to conduct a technical assessment of the island and its safety, nor was it involved in transporting refugees there.
Bangladesh says the transfer is voluntary, but some of the first group relocated to the island have spoken of being forced to do so.
The Rohingya, a minority who fled the violence in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, are not allowed to leave the island, which is located hours away from the southern port.
Bangladesh refuted concerns about the island by citing flood fortifications as well as facilities to house 100,000 people, hospitals and cyclone monitoring centers.
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