The Daily Star
Diplomatic Correspondent
October 24, 2020
October 24, 2020
Donors aim to meet $1b target in funding for the refugees in 2020, urge Myanmar to create conditions for their return
Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar. Photo: Star/ Anisur Rahman
The international community yesterday pledged $597 million in humanitarian assistance for Rohingyas in the region and urged Myanmar to create conditions for their repatriation.
The US, EU, and UK, announced $200 million, €96 million and £37 million.
The announcement came at a donors' conference for the Rohingyas co-hosted by the US, UK, EU and UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
This year, Bangladesh received less than 50 percent of the $1 billion required for the Rohingya refugees.
Delegates from 50 countries, including Bangladesh and several ASEAN states, attended the virtual conference.
"In the initial joint response plan for Bangladesh, the budget was $877 million. But the COVID-19 pandemic required additional funding. Therefore, the budget went up to about $1 billion," a UN official told The Daily Star. Reading out a joint statement from the co-hosts of the conference, Filippo Grandi, UN high commissioner for the refugees, said when the international community continues efforts to secure long term solution, their focus now is on sustainable response planning so that Bangladesh could more effectively support the management of the response to maximise the benefits of both Bangladeshi and Rohingya communities.
"The crisis is affecting the wider region. Rohingyas, especially women and children, are desperately attempting to reach other countries. We thank the governments who are allowing disembarkation.
"We will continue to provide strong support to the Rohingyas wherever they are in the region."
Grandi said the situation of the Rohingyas in the region remains an acute humanitarian crisis for more than three years.
"We will continue to provide strong support to the Rohingyas wherever they are in the region."
Grandi said the situation of the Rohingyas in the region remains an acute humanitarian crisis for more than three years.
Since the 2017 violence, some 750,000 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar.
Presently, there are 860,000 Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar refugee camps, 600,000 in Rakhine state and 150,000 in the other countries in the region.
No Rohingyas volunteered to return to Myanmar, saying there was no guarantee of safety, citizenship and other basic rights.
Presently, there are 860,000 Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar refugee camps, 600,000 in Rakhine state and 150,000 in the other countries in the region.
No Rohingyas volunteered to return to Myanmar, saying there was no guarantee of safety, citizenship and other basic rights.
"We reiterate the UN secretary-general's call for global ceasefire, cessation of fighting for unimpeded access of the humanitarian access to all communities in need of assistance [in Rakhine]," Grandi said, referring to the recent escalation of conflicts between Myanmar military and Arakan Army in Rakhine.
For a voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingyas to their places of origin in Myanmar, Grandi said Myanmar must take steps to address the root causes of the violence and displacement in Rkhine.
For a voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingyas to their places of origin in Myanmar, Grandi said Myanmar must take steps to address the root causes of the violence and displacement in Rkhine.
Myanmar must provide justice to the victims of human rights violations and ensure that those responsible are held accountable, he said.
Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam said the international community should sincerely work to create an environment for the repatriation of Rohingyas.
He emphasised that Rohingyas must return to their country of origin at the earliest.
Bangladesh is not in a position to take "this burden anymore", he said, seeking concrete steps from the international community.
Bangladesh opened the doors for the Rohingyas in 2017 when no other country was willing to accept the refugees. A similar gesture was shown during the recent incidents, he said.
"Lack of progress in repatriation in the last three years led to widespread frustrations and hopelessness among the displaced Rohingyas, making them susceptible to trafficking, radicalisation, drug dealing and other criminal activities," he said.
Shahriar said the business-as-usual and appeasement approaches pursued by the international community are counter-productive and stunting the prospect of repatriation.
The "role of the United Nations in saving humanity from hell is also not visible in its policy actions", he said, urging the international community to invest necessary political will for urgent repatriation.
Link : Here
Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam said the international community should sincerely work to create an environment for the repatriation of Rohingyas.
He emphasised that Rohingyas must return to their country of origin at the earliest.
Bangladesh is not in a position to take "this burden anymore", he said, seeking concrete steps from the international community.
Bangladesh opened the doors for the Rohingyas in 2017 when no other country was willing to accept the refugees. A similar gesture was shown during the recent incidents, he said.
"Lack of progress in repatriation in the last three years led to widespread frustrations and hopelessness among the displaced Rohingyas, making them susceptible to trafficking, radicalisation, drug dealing and other criminal activities," he said.
Shahriar said the business-as-usual and appeasement approaches pursued by the international community are counter-productive and stunting the prospect of repatriation.
The "role of the United Nations in saving humanity from hell is also not visible in its policy actions", he said, urging the international community to invest necessary political will for urgent repatriation.
Link : Here
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