Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with her Bangladeshi counterparts on allowing NGOs to carry radios in the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar.

We are aware of NGO concerns regarding access and ability to deliver in the camps. DFID Bangladesh humanitarian leads are in regular contact with the head of the NGO platform in Cox’s Bazar and directly with our NGO partners. We and other development partners work with UN agencies to raise issues with the Bangladesh government including timely and transparent processing of authorisations.

NGOs have discussed access to radios with the UN Resident Coordinator and Government officials. Currently NGOs can only access radios through UN partners, which creates some restrictions. DFID is aware of these issues, and continues to raise this issue with the UN.