By U.S. Mission Photo by Eric Bridiers
On Saturday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the global community to extend essential financial and political assistance to Rohingya refugees and their host communities in order to prevent humanitarian crises in Bangladesh, as reported by the state-run BSS news agency.
During his four-day visit to Bangladesh, which commenced on March 13, Guterres held a joint press conference in Dhaka following his trip to Cox’s Bazar, where he expressed solidarity with the Rohingya refugees.
The situation for over 1 million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar remains precarious due to potential reductions in aid in the near future. After witnessing the conditions in the overcrowded makeshift camps in Cox’s Bazar, where these individuals have sought refuge after being displaced from Myanmar’s Rakhine state, Guterres condemned the humanitarian aid cuts imposed by the United States and various European nations on Bangladesh, where many Rohingya are currently residing, labeling it a crime.
He reiterated his appeal to the international community for increased support to avert humanitarian disasters in the refugee camps in Bangladesh, as reported by the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).
I earnestly urge the international community to take action to prevent any potential tragedy, he stated, emphasizing the need for increased financial and political support for both the refugees and the communities that host them.
Guterres also acknowledged Bangladesh’s remarkable generosity in addressing the Rohingya crisis, as reported by the BSS, and remarked that this reflects the nation’s enduring humanitarian spirit.
By providing refuge to Rohingya refugees, Bangladesh has exemplified solidarity and respect for human dignity, often incurring significant social, environmental, and economic costs, Guterres noted.
The United Nations is fully dedicated to collaborating with Bangladesh and other stakeholders to develop a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis, which facilitates the safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable return of refugees to Myanmar, as quoted by the BSS.
He mentioned that preparations are actively underway by UN Member States for a High-Level Conference addressing the situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar.
This year, I chose to visit Bangladesh to demonstrate my solidarity with the Rohingya refugees and the Bangladeshi people who provide them with shelter, the UN chief stated. Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain also spoke at the joint briefing.
