British royal family member and Duchess of Edinburgh Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones visited Rohingya refugee camps in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, on Tuesday, observing education, healthcare, protection and livelihood programmes for children, women and adolescent girls.
She began her visit around 10:30am at a learning centre in Block B-1 of Camp 18, where she learned about Rohingya children’s education, learning environment and challenges. She also spoke with Rohingya children.
Sophie later visited humanitarian activities run by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and a Women and Girls Safe Space.
Around noon, she visited a soap production facility in Camp 20 run through an initiative by IOM and PHALS. She learned about employment, skills development, and self-reliance opportunities for Rohingya and local women.
She observed the entire soap-making process, from mixing raw materials to production, quality testing and storage. She was also briefed on how the soap is distributed free of charge among refugees.
Later, Sophie visited a multipurpose centre run by UN Women in Camp 4 and programmes supporting women and children with disabilities. She was briefed on the challenges faced by displaced Rohingya women, children and adolescent girls in accessing education, healthcare, protection and humanitarian assistance.
Officials said one of the key purposes of Sophie’s visit to Bangladesh was to highlight issues concerning the welfare, safety, empowerment and education of women and girls. She also visited humanitarian programmes for Rohingyas and learned about different aspects of humanitarian cooperation between Bangladesh and the UK.
Sophie left the camp area around 3:30pm for Cox’s Bazar Airport.
Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, refugee relief and repatriation commissioner, said various national and international organisations were working to provide protection, education and humanitarian assistance to women, children and people with disabilities in the Rohingya camps.
“The Duchess observed these activities during her visit,” he said.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
