Wednesday 24 / April / 2024
Dhaka: The Rohingya refugee crisis remains one of the worst in the world, according to senior officials from UNHCR.
Filipo Grandi, UNHCR Commissioner stated during a recent visit to Bangladesh, "This remains one of the world’s biggest refugee crises.
“There are more than 900,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, most of whom fled Myanmar in 2017. I saw a great deal of progress, but their situation, especially for women and children, remains fragile.
With the current crisis almost two years on we must give refugees the chance to learn, build skills and contribute to their communities while also preparing for reintegration when they can return to Myanmar,” Grandi added.
“The future of the Rohingya refugees hangs in the balance.”
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Grandi was accompanied in by the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock and Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) António Vitorino.
The three were in the country to assess the situation on the ground and highlight the needs of the Rohingya community.
The visit also came just ahead of the cyclone period, which is followed by the monsoon season. Both pose serious risks, including flooding, landslides and disease outbreaks, to thousands of already vulnerable women, men and children.
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“The Rohingya community is made up of so many young people who are in need of hope and opportunities if they are to build successful lives upon their return to Myanmar," said Vitorino added.
He added, “We are concerned for the welfare of the Rohingya refugees who live in such vulnerable circumstances in Cox’s Bazar, as well as for host communities which also face significant challenges, particularly in the lead up to the monsoon season.”
In their meetings with refugees, the humanitarian leaders were also reminded of the harrowing circumstances refugees fled from and were encouraged by their resilience.
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“The first time I was in Cox’s Bazar in 2017, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya had just fled across the border from the most appalling brutality imaginable,” said Lowcock.
“During this trip, we met with a remarkable group of male refugee role models as well as women volunteers who are supporting those who have survived this brutality and also working to prevent violence in the camps.
A wise, far-sighted approach would see a stronger focus on helping the refugees not just recover from the horrors they have experienced, but also to prepare for a dignified longer-term future,” said Lowcock.
