A/HRC/42/CRP.5 112. The harsh living conditions to which the Government is subjecting Rohingya IDPs is additional evidence that the Rohingya are not welcome. It indicates what premature repatriation of Rohingya from camps in Bangladesh would look like. 113. When the camps were established, the Government asserted that they would not be permanent.191 The Mission’s 2018 report described the camps’ appalling conditions. 192 Seven years on, in May 2019, the High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, raised concerns over restrictions on IDP freedom of movement and access to livelihoods. 193 The United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Ursula Mueller, reaffirmed that same month that “After seven years of displacement, the conditions in camps have deteriorated and are simply unacceptable”.194 At the end of a three day visit to Myanmar, on 31 January 2019, the UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, remarked that living conditions in one of the camps she visited in Rakhine State were “sub-optimal, stripping children of their dignity and exposing them to violence, exploitation, disease and neglect. Families were confined to the camps, depriving them of a livelihood and leaving their children malnourished.” The camp was designed as a temporary shelter but had been housing families for over six years.195 114. In June 2018, the Government announced a strategic plan to close IDP camps in Rakhine, Kachin, Shan and Kayin States.196 However, over a year later, a few camps have been declared “closed” but Rohingya residing there continue to live in the same conditions, dependent on humanitarian assistance, due to a lack of access to sustainable livelihood opportunities and basic services, further entrenching segregation.197 The draft plan states that the objective of the camp closure strategy is “to ensure sustainable resettlement …. and to create livelihood opportunities…”198 as well as to “…proceed with resettlement arrangements in accordance with the will of those residing in the camps in order to enable the residents in those camps to become independent and resume their normal lives…” 199 While the draft strategy is welcome, it is important for the authorities to hold meaningful consultations with the affected communities and to take on board any of their concerns in implementing it. It is essential for the strategy to be implemented in a way that ensures the human rights of the IDPs. 115. In a recommendation of the Rakhine Advisory Commission in 2017, the Government was called upon to ensure freedom of movement, access to education, health, livelihood and basic services to the IDPs.200 However, in declaring a few camps closed, the Government has focused only on infrastructure and shelter changes without addressing the fundamental issues identified by the Commission, such as freedom of movement and access to livelihoods and other services. 201Without these reforms, IDPs remain unable to achieve normal and sustainable living conditions and to access basic services such as education, health and livelihoods. The lack of access to basic services and livelihoods and the 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 A/HRC/39/CRP2. para. 693. A/HRC/39/CRP.2, para. 693, See also, Statement by UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, 10 July 2019. UNHCR, UN High Commissioner for Refugees concludes visit to Myanmar, 24 May 2019. https://frontiermyanmar.net/en/un-official-urges-durable-solutions-for-270000-people-displaced-byconflict. UNICEF, Investing in children should be the foundation of Myanmar’s progress and development, 31 January 2019. Irrawaddy, Ministry Announces Plan to Close IDP Camps in 4 States, 5 June 2018. FFFGEN-1-86989. National Strategy on Closure of IDP camps, draft received by the Mission in May 2019 strategy, para 2 (b). Ibid para. 1, page 2. Recommendation 8, Ibid. Reuters, 'We can't go anywhere': Myanmar closes Rohingya camps but 'entrenches segregation', 6 December 2018. UNHCR, UN High Commissioner for Refugees concludes visit to Myanmar, 24 May 2019. FFFGEN-1-86987, Strait Times, “UN official urges Myanmar to grant aid workers access to Rakhine state”, 16 May 2019; The Irrawaddy, “Ministry Announces Plan to Close IDP Camps in 4 States”, 5 June 2018. 35