UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that reducing humanitarian aid for the Rohingya refugees would lead to a catastrophic disaster, causing immense suffering and loss of lives.
Speaking at an iftar gathering with 100,000 Rohingya refugees at Camp 20 Extension in Ukhiya on Friday (March 14), he said, “We are on the brink of a deep humanitarian crisis. Due to funding shortages, in 2025, aid will be 40% less than in 2024. This will be a catastrophe—people will suffer, and people will die. The international community must act now.”
He emphasized that aid for refugees had not been sufficient even in the past, but the current budget shortfall is unprecedented. UN agencies and humanitarian organizations face severe funding shortages, impacting food, healthcare, and essential services. He added, “Every refugee in this camp depends on humanitarian assistance. Cox’s Bazar is at the center of this budget crisis. A funding cut here means human suffering and death.”
Guterres reiterated that the ultimate solution lies in Myanmar and pledged that the UN would not give up until the Rohingya could return home safely, voluntarily, and with dignity. He urged the global community to step up, saying, “Solidarity with the Rohingya refugees is needed now more than ever—just as solidarity with Bangladesh is equally essential.”
Meanwhile, Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus pledged to work alongside the UN to ensure that Rohingya refugees can celebrate next year’s Eid in their homeland, Rakhine, Myanmar. Yunus expressed hope for their safe return by addressing the gathering in the Chattogram dialect to better connect with the refugees.
Earlier in the day, Guterres and Yunus arrived in Cox’s Bazar at 12:48 PM on a chartered flight. While Guterres proceeded directly to the refugee camps, Yunus inspected the ongoing expansion work at Cox’s Bazar Airport and attended a discussion on the district’s tourism and development potential. He later visited the Khurushkul Climate Refugee Center before the iftar event.
Before the iftar, Guterres visited a UNICEF-run learning center to interact with Rohingya students. He also toured a Rohingya cultural center and a jute-based product manufacturing unit. After the meal, both Guterres and Yunus departed Cox’s Bazar.
By Abdur Rashid Manik
Photo: CA Press Wing
