Three top United Nations officials will jointly visit Bangladesh from Apr 24-26 to highlight the ongoing need for support for the humanitarian needs of almost a million Rohingya refugees.
The three officials are the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi; the Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), António Vitorino; and the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock.
The aim of the visit is to highlight the need to continue strong international support for the humanitarian response while solutions for the Rohingya are pursued, including the creation of conditions in Myanmar’s Rakhine State that would allow for the voluntary, safe and dignified return of refugees to their homes.
It is mentionable here that the UN agencies don’t have access to northern Rakhine due to restriction imposed by the Myanmar authorities.
A media advisory issued by UN said the delegation will call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, and other senior government officials to explore ways the international community can provide further support to Bangladesh as hosts to the Rohingya.
The delegation will travel to Cox’s Bazar to meet with refugees, assess preparations underway ahead of the monsoon season and visit projects, including those involving food distribution and shelters.
They will also meet refugees who are working as volunteers, and observe a UNHCR-government of Bangladesh registration exercise, designed to provide identity cards to all refugees, ensuring their access to aid services and protection as well as establishing their right to return to Myanmar.
They will have a wrap-up press conference in Cox’s Bazar on Friday (Apr 26).