Africa-Press – Botswana. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) called on Tuesday for more efforts by the international community to ensure financial support and solutions for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
This week it has been five years since more than 700,000 Rohingya women, men and children fled Myanmar (formerly Burma) for Bangladesh, joining hundreds of thousands of other Rohingya who in previous years had already sought and found refuge. in the country, underlined this Tuesday the spokesperson of the UNHCR, Shabia Mantoo.
UNHCR, the spokeswoman said at a press conference, urges the international community to make more efforts to secure financial support and solutions for Rohingya refugees.
Together, the international community must do more to ensure that the Rohingya do not continue in their current situation, in addition to redoubling efforts for greater political dialogue and diplomatic commitment to create conditions for a voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return to Myanmar, according to with the UN High Commissioner.
Since the onset of this humanitarian crisis, the Government of Bangladesh and local communities, with the help of aid agencies, have responded quickly to incoming refugees, providing shelter in what is now the largest refugee camp in the world, at Cox’s. Bazaar.
The latest exodus from Myanmar is now officially defined as a protracted situation.
Five years later, many Rohingya refugees have told UNHCR that they want to return to Myanmar, provided that the conditions for a safe, dignified and sustainable return are met, including that they can enjoy freedom of movement, access to documentation and citizenship, as well as access to income-enhancing services and activities.
Nearly one million stateless Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh face extremely difficult conditions and are fully dependent on humanitarian aid for their survival.
As funding declines, several humanitarian assessment surveys have found that the most frequently unmet needs include adequate nutrition, shelter materials, sanitation facilities and livelihood opportunities. Some resorted to dangerous boat trips to look for a better future.
According to UNHCR, protection needs – especially for women, children and people with disabilities – are often under-reported. Violence against children and women, especially gender-based violence, is shrouded in stigma that can make survivors unable to access legal, medical, psychosocial or other forms of support.
Support from the international community has been and is crucial to the provision of protection and assistance services to Rohingya refugees, but funding falls far short of needs, according to UNHCR.
The 2022 response plan provides more than US$881 million (€887 million) to more than 1.4 million people, including Rohingya refugees and more than half a million worst-affected host communities. However, so far, the funding obtained is only 49%, with 426.2 million dollars received (430 million euros).
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