European Union (EU) wants the forcibly displaced Rohingya people to be deported back only when a conducive atmosphere for the refugees' safe, dignified and voluntary repatriation is ensured in Rakhine state of Myanmar, said the EU head of delegation.
"We together with the international community and Bangladesh government have been advocating the issue. The only solution is that the Rohingyas should go back home," said Ms Rensje TEERINK on Thursday.
But they can go back home only when the situation in Rakhine state is conducive to a safe, dignified and voluntary return, she added.
"As long as it is not ensured, we can't support their return as their life can be worse. That's a big dilemma," she said.
Ms Rensje made the comments while answering questions of the media regarding the ongoing support through various projects for the Rohingyas and the host community in Cox's Bazar and the possible solution to the problem.
She was speaking at the launch of the "Building Rohingya Refugee and Host Community Resilience in Cox's Bazar" project.
UNICEF and EU jointly held the press briefing on the project at a city hotel.
UNICEF Country Representative Tomoo Hozumi, Disaster Management and Relief Additional Secretary Moyazzem Hossain, Local Government Division Additional Secretary Roxana Quader were also present at the programme.
UNICEF chief of OIC, Cox's Bazar Berta Travieso made a presentation on the project.
In a major support for Cox's Bazar district, the EU announced €18 million in funding to help improve resilience among Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi host communities.
Over 288,000 children and families will benefit as part of a three-year EU-supported UNICEF programme, building synergies across four key areas of nutrition; water, sanitation and hygiene, education and child protection.
In answering another question, Ms Rensje said EU has been trying along with the Bangladesh government for the return of Rohingyas as soon as possible.
But it is a big challenge. Until their safe return is ensured, EU again expressed its commitment to continue its support for both the forcibly displaced Rohingya people and the host communities.
"We have been supporting various projects so that no one is left behind in the host community and the Rohingyas. The effect this large influx has had on the host community and the district as a whole remains there as this is not going to be solved in a couple of months," said Ms Rensje.
There are 0.5 million children below 18 years in Cox's Bazar.
These children should not be kept out of education. This type of projects having component of education, WASH and child protection will be valuable in the long term too as Cox's Bazar is an impoverished district and has been taking huge challenges like environmental destruction and others.
Mr Tomoo said Cox's Bazar had various development challenges even before arrival of the Rohingyas.
About 33 per cent of its people live below poverty line while the rate of primary education completion is only 55 per cent.
The situation remains critical as humanitarian assistance is required for 1.2 million people in one of the most vulnerable districts of Bangladesh, he added.
Moyazzem Hossain said that the host community has been suffering a lot due to the huge influx and they have become minority now.
The Rohingyas are at risk of landslide during the monsoon as deforestation took place in a devastating scale at Cox's Bazar.
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