Economic Impact on Host Communities: A Comparative Study of Rohingya and Afghan Exodus

Öz

Abstract Rohingyas of Myanmar have achieved the status of refugees while escaping from violent torture and mass killing under the military of Myanmar. The Muslim community of Rohingya witnessed an extreme level of persecution for many years in this regard. Bangladesh has welcomed the Rohingya refugees as the country was the very next destination for the refugees. This research paper based on empirical evidence aims to uncover the economic impacts of the Rohingya crisis on the host country in recent years. In Bangladesh, all the development indicators are facing an upward trajectory in GDP. Obviously, the influx of migrants is a huge burden for the local economy. The refugee crisis has especially hit the region of Cox’s Bazar. The study aims to draw the attention of policymakers to the deteriorating effects of the influx of refugees both at present and in the future. It is time that the international community comes forward and forces the government of Myanmar to resolve the issue in order to help Bangladesh to get out of the extreme distress of the refugee influx. Furthermore, the crisis is analyzed keeping into consideration the case of Afghan refugees which also imposed a huge burden on the economy of Pakistan. Though very limited data is available in this regard the empirical results clearly indicate that Afghan refugees also produced a negative impact on the economic growth of Pakistan. Few important conclusions are developed through the comparative analysis of two case studies which finally entail that refugee influx can never be a boon to a country. Simply, such a crisis lowers real economic activities for host countries.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• KeyWords: Rohingya refugees
• Cox’s Bazar
• ARSA
• Afghan refugees

Economic Impact on Host Communities: A Comparative Study of Rohingya and Afghan Exodus

Öz

Rohingyas of Myanmar have achieved the status of refugees while escaping from violent torture and mass killing under the military of Myanmar. The Muslim community of Rohingya witnessed an extreme level of persecution for many years in this regard. Bangladesh has welcomed the Rohingya refugees as the country was the very next destination for the refugees. This research paper based on empirical evidence aims to uncover the economic impacts of the Rohingya crisis on the host country in recent years. In Bangladesh, all the development indicators are facing an upward trajectory in GDP. Obviously, the influx of migrants is a huge burden for the local economy. The refugee crisis has especially hit the region of Cox’s Bazar. The study aims to draw the attention of policymakers to the deteriorating effects of the influx of refugees both at present and in the future. It is time that the international community comes forward and forces the government of Myanmar to resolve the issue in order to help Bangladesh to get out of the extreme distress of the refugee influx. Furthermore, the crisis is analyzed keeping into consideration the case of Afghan refugees which also imposed a huge burden on the economy of Pakistan. Though very limited data is available in this regard the empirical results clearly indicate that Afghan refugees also produced a negative impact on the economic growth of Pakistan. Few important conclusions are developed through the comparative analysis of two case studies which finally entail that refugee influx can never be a boon to a country. Simply, such a crisis lowers real economic activities for host countries.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Rohingya refugees
• Cox’s Bazar
• ARSA
• Afghan refugees

Kaynakça

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