OIC: Diplomatic track must continue to resolve Rohingya crisis

Dhaka Tribune
Tribune Report
Publish : 13 Aug 2023

• A delegation of OIC, humanitarian partners concluded a solidarity visit to Bangladesh
• The visit shed light on worsening humanitarian situation of refugees
• They observed the acute needs of the refugees and their hosts
• Humanitarian agencies appealed for $876 million to support Rohingya refugees

A delegation of OIC, humanitarian partners witness firsthand UNHCR’s disaster risk management and preparedness activities at Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar recently. Photo: Courtesy

Assistant Secretary General of the OIC Ambassador Tariq Ali Bakheet has called for continued diplomatic efforts along with the humanitarian activities to resolve the Rohingya crisis.

 "The diplomatic track must advance hand in hand with humanitarian efforts to deal with the root causes of the problem and reach a permanent solution to the Rohingya crisis in accordance with the OIC’s relevant resolutions” he said in a statement after concluding his Bangladesh visit.

Ambassador Bakheet commended the government and people of Bangladesh for their generosity in hosting one of the most vulnerable refugee populations in the world.

He lauded the initiatives undertaken to facilitate access by Rohingya children to the Myanmar curriculum in the Myanmar language in the learning centers in the camps in preparation of voluntarily return and reintegration in their ancestral society in Myanmar, the UNHCR said.

“I call on all countries, especially the Member States of the OIC, to continue showing solidarity by generously supporting the Government of Bangladesh and humanitarian partners in responding to the pressing needs of the Rohingya population and their hosts," he said.

A delegation from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), joined by representatives from the Islamic Solidarity Fund (ISF), the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) and Kuwait’s Zakat House successfully concluded a solidarity visit to Bangladesh on Thursday.

The mission was organized and co-led by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, within the framework of the OIC-UNHCR partnership Plan of Action concluded in 2022.

The photo shows a delegation from OIC, ISF, QFFD, KFAED and Kuwait’s Zakat House visiting Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar recently. Photo: Courtesy

The visit shed light on the worsening humanitarian situation and compounded needs of Rohingya refugees and their hosts in the district of Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh as the situation approaches the six -year mark of the unprecedented 2017 influx of Rohingya from Rakhine State in Myanmar.

The delegation visited several programs supported by UNHCR and partners and observed the acute needs of the refugees and their hosts.

They also witnessed how opportunities can be created for both communities to reduce reliance on aid and advance livelihoods through skills development and capacity-building programs in community centers.

The visit came during a period of heavy monsoon rains that had caused severe damage to shelters, facilities and infrastructure adding to the predicament of the already fragile displaced communities.

The delegation witnessed firsthand UNHCR’s disaster risk management and preparedness activities aimed at mitigating climate-related risks and averting a further deterioration of living conditions caused by adverse weather.

Read More

• ‘Rohingya camps breeding ground for criminals’
• Dhaka seeks third-country resettlement of Rohingyas
• Bangladesh urges OIC to make efforts for Rohingya repatriation
• Dhaka calls for collective response to conflict-induced global food insecurity
• Trilateral process finding suitable time to start Rohingya repatriation
• Rohingya man shot dead in Cox’s Bazar camp

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