Momen urges UNHCR to expedite efforts for Rohingya return

Grandi assures the foreign minister of extending all sorts of support to Bangladesh

FE Team | Published: May 25, 2022 23:49:16

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has urged the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to enhance their activities in Rakhine for creating an environment conducive to the sustainable repatriation of the persecuted Rohingyas to Myanmar, reports UNB.
He raised the issue when UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi met him in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Momen said proactive engagement of the international community in confidence building among the Rohingya people is crucial for sustainable repatriation.
He thanked the UNHCR for its continued engagement in the humanitarian operations for the forcibly displaced Rohingyas.
The foreign minister highlighted the introduction of informal education for the Rohingya children under Myanmar curriculum in Myanmar language, skill development activities, livelihood opportunities, and health facilities etc both in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char.
He expressed the hope that these initiatives would facilitate their reintegration in Myanmar society upon return.
Momen urged the High Commissioner to engage with Myanmar with a view to creating conducive environment in the Rakhine State for early repatriation.
The High Commissioner said his organisation is making efforts in this regard and assured the minister that he will further pursue this.
He underscored that the UNHCR is in the same page with Bangladesh concerning voluntary and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar.
While sharing his experience of the visit to Cox's Bazar Rohingya camp and Bhasan Char, he mentioned the ardent aspirations of all the Rohingyas he met to return to Myanmar at the earliest.
He assured the foreign minister of extending all sorts of support to Bangladesh in ensuring sustainable repatriation of the Rohingya to Rakhine.
He also said the UNHCR and other international agencies are undertaking a number of projects for the benefits of the local people in Cox's Bazar.
While highlighting various aspects of Bhasan Char, the foreign minister stressed the need for full engagement of UN systems in Bhasan Char to provide humanitarian assistance for all the relocated Rohingyas on the island.
High Commissioner Grandi reiterated to continue providing necessary support to the government of Bangladesh for Bhasan Char.
He underscored that ensuring sustainability of the Bhasan Char project is important and all should work together on this.