Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Singh, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) remains deeply concerned by the continued crisis facing Rohingyan refugees, especially the 500,000 children currently living in refugee camps in Bangladesh;

(b) notes:

  (i) the particular vulnerability of women and children,

  (ii) that many of Rakhine State's 1 million Rohingya and other minorities live in insubstantial tented camps and rely on United Nations and Non-Government Organisation (NGO) aid for survival,

  (iii) that wild weather including monsoonal rains is wreaking havoc—flooding low-lying areas of the camps and washing raw sewage into family homes and water supplies,

  (iv) that if necessary, refugee camps need to be located on appropriate land which can provide safety from the monsoon season, floods and disease and have adequate space for the provision of services,

  (v) that the proposed camp on the Bay of Bengal silt island Bhasan Char has been criticised by humanitarian agencies concerned that the silt island is vulnerable to frequent cyclones and cannot sustain livelihoods for thousands of people; and

(c) urges the Turnbull Government to:

  (i) do everything in its power to help Rohingya refugee children and their families living in camps by working with the Bangladesh Government to ensure their survival, health and safety, and

  (ii) assist the Government of Bangladesh to make the necessary transition from emergency response to meeting the longer-term development needs of Rohingya refugee children and their families as well as the host community.