The United Nations has urged the international community on Friday not to forget the mess of Rohingya Muslims refugees residing in Bangladesh, and called for world support in order to ensure Rohingya refugee’s safety and return to Myanmar.
According to ANI news reports, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs Mark Lowcock paid a visit to Cox Bazar in Bangladesh on Friday, to address Rohingya refugee camps, shortly after which he told reporters the UN agency was seeking to raise funds in order to help and support the refugees and their community.
Lowcock was quoted by Al-Jazeera news agency as saying, “Our main message is to the wider world: do not forget the Rohingta, do not forget the generosity of the people and institutions and government of Bangladesh, and be generous in supporting both the Rohingya and Bangladesh.”
Above 70,000 Rohingya refugees have fled Myanmar seeking refuge in Bangladesh last year in August, following a Myanmar military crackdown over them. More than 1.2 million refugees are residing in squalid and overcrowded refugee camps situated in southeastern Bangladesh.
Lowcock stated the “great exodus” of Rohingya refugees arrive at Cox Bazar seeking refuge “caused all sorts of issues”.
A team of 20 delegations of UN agency, including International Organization for Migration (IOM) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR), has paid a visit to Cox Bazar to inspect the World Food Program (WFP)-led food distribution centres and address refugee children and women.
High commissioner Filippo Grandi stated the refugee crisis shouldn’t turn into a “forgotten crisis”. He noted, “This remains one of the world’s biggest refugee crises. I saw a great deal of progress, but their situation, especially for women and children remains fragile.”
The UN officials, in addition, highlighted the need for more stronger infrastructure in the refugee camps in upcoming cyclone period.
Meanwhile, AK Abdul Momen, Bangladesh foreign minister, stressed the government was planning to shift some 100,000 refugees to the Bhasan Char island. He was quoted as saying, “We have information that this year there may be more rain and that may cause landslides.”
However, the human rights group expressed concerns that plan to shift refugees to Bhasan Char island might not be good as the island is prone to cyclones and is a remote area.