Reproducibility package for Echoes of Exodus: The Rohingya Impact on Bangladesh’s Development

This study examines the impact of refugee camp hosting on local communities, focusing on the Rohingya crisis in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. It employs one-square kilometer grid-unit remote sensing measurements of annual night light density, deforestation, and land use, alongside with panel data from individuals residing near the camps in 2019 and 2023. By employing a difference-in-difference approach, the study compares areas and individuals situated at varying distances from the camps, both before and after the arrival of the displaced population from Myanmar’s Rakhine State. The results highlight the complex dynamics at play in areas hosting displaced populations. Particularly, the estimates indicate that when proximity of a grid to the refugee camps increases by 30 kms (18.6 miles), night density increases by 1.7 percent and deforestation increases by 0.02 percent. Land use results align with these findings, showing a decline in dense-open forests and an increase in land covered by grass and crops. The analysis of individual-level data is consistent, suggesting that Rohingya’s presence has been reflected on higher demand for formal jobs, better aid access, and more food consumption and variety largely attributed to the activities of humanitarian organizations. However, the presence of the displaced Rohingya population is also associated with heightened safety concerns and a higher prevalence of viral diseases such as diarrhea, fever, and cough.