United Nation (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres has reiterated the UN’s continued commitment to a durable solution to the Rohingya crisis and assured Bangladesh of ensuring funding for the issue.
He committed when the High Representative of Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser on the Rohingya Issue and Priority Matters, Dr. Khalilur Rahman, met him on Friday to discuss the upcoming UN International Conference on Rohingya Muslims and other Minorities of Myanmar, a press release said on February 8.
The UN General Assembly decided to hold the Conference by consensus.
The Secretary-General recalled his visits to the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar and Rakhine State. It reiterated his concerns for the Rohingyas who remain victims of systematic discrimination and grave violations of their fundamental rights.
He lauded the continued generosity of Bangladesh in hosting nearly 1.2 million Rohingyas for eight years.
Guterres recognized Bangladesh’s indispensable role in supporting the UN-led humanitarian assistance to Rakhine at this critical hour of need.
The High Representative highlighted the importance of urgent international actions for a sustainable resolution of the Rohingya issue, which continues to threaten regional peace and security.
He requested the Secretary-General to mobilize the international community to ensure that the Conference, to be held this year, adopts concrete measures for an early and sustainable resolution of the issue.
Rahman also highlighted the severe humanitarian conditions in Rakhine State and warned that the impending famine will further destabilise the conflict-ravaged state.
He drew the UN Secretary-General’s attention to the deteriorating external funding situation and urged him to use his good offices to mobilize sufficient resources.
He also requested Guterres to ensure that aid providers and recipients have unimpeded access and are free from violence, intimidation, discrimination and displacement and that air strikes and bombings are brought to an end.
The SG recalled his recent meeting with the Chief Adviser at Davos and reiterated firm support for the reform efforts.
He also assured the High Representative of his attention to higher-level representations of Bangladesh in the UN peacekeeping machinery.
Rahman also held bilateral meetings with UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner and UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix.
Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN, Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, was present at the meeting.
Cox’s Bazar Life Desk/BSS
