United Nations Secretary-Normal António Guterres on Friday referred to as for pressing worldwide assist for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, warning that cuts in humanitarian support might result in a catastrophe.
Talking at a joint press briefing in Dhaka throughout his four-day go to to Bangladesh, Guterres urged the worldwide neighborhood to supply monetary and political help to each the refugees and their host communities.
“I strongly enchantment to the worldwide neighborhood to permit us to keep away from any tragedy,” he mentioned. He additionally praised Bangladesh’s “extraordinary generosity” in sheltering multiple million Rohingya refugees and described it as a testomony to the nation’s humanitarian spirit.
Guterres visited Cox’s Bazar, the place a lot of the Rohingya refugees stay in overcrowded camps, and described the affect of worldwide support cuts on susceptible populations as “a criminal offense”, reported AP.
He criticised the USA and European nations for slashing humanitarian help whereas growing defence budgets.
Based on AP, the UN’s World Meals Programme (WFP) has warned that with out pressing funding, meals rations for Rohingya refugees may very well be minimize by half subsequent month. A latest WFP letter said that $81 million is required to maintain operations till the top of the yr, together with $15 million for April alone.
Guterres assured that the UN will proceed efforts to safe funding and careworn that Rohingya refugees should not be forgotten. “We can not settle for that the worldwide neighborhood forgets concerning the Rohingya,” he mentioned.
Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus met with Guterres and urged the UN to mobilise humanitarian support and assist the repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, which he described as the last word answer.
“We try to boost consideration to the plight of the Rohingya individuals. The world ought to know the way they’re struggling. There’s a feeling of frustration,” Yunus was quoted as saying by AP.
Guterres emphasised that Myanmar stays the homeland of the Rohingya and referred to as on all events in Myanmar to make sure their secure and voluntary return. “My message to all events in Myanmar is evident: train most restraint, prioritise the safety of civilians, and create situations for the Rohingya to return house,” he mentioned, as per PTI.
Bangladesh has persistently maintained that repatriation is the one long-term answer, however efforts have stalled attributable to ongoing political instability in Myanmar. The Buddhist-majority nation has been accused of genocide towards the Rohingya in a world court docket.
As per ANI, Guterres reaffirmed the UN’s dedication to advocating for Rohingya rights and guaranteeing that they obtain humanitarian help.
He additionally attended a photograph exhibition in Dhaka, interacted with youth and civil society members, and held a joint press convention with overseas adviser Touhid Hossain.
His go to will conclude with an iftar hosted by the chief adviser earlier than he departs from Dhaka on March 16.
