The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to continue supporting Bangladesh in addressing the Rohingya crisis, refugee relief and repatriation commissioner Mohammad Mizanur Rahman said on Friday after a high-level US delegation visited Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar.
He said international assistance for the Rohingya response had declined significantly recently, making the visit of the US delegation a positive sign for the humanitarian operation.
‘The United States has remained the largest donor since the beginning of the Rohingya crisis. The delegation came to see how US assistance is being utilised in the camps.
They expressed satisfaction with Bangladesh’s overall management of the Rohingya response,’ Mizanur told journalists after a meeting with the delegation in Ukhiya.
The 14-member delegation, led by US Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs Sergio Gor, arrived at Cox’s Bazar Airport at around 12:00pm and later travelled to the Rohingya camps in Ukhiya.
The delegation first visited Camp 8W, where members observed the camp from a watchtower before touring a Bangladesh Red Crescent Society-run hospital in Camp 6. They spoke with patients, doctors and nurses about healthcare services provided in the camp.
The delegation later visited a UNHCR-operated registration centre at Camp 4 to observe registration activities and exchange views with officials.
They also inspected a World Food Programme food distribution centre at Camp 4 Extension, where they observed the distribution process and interacted with Rohingya refugees and WFP personnel.
Following the field visits, the delegation met refugee relief and repatriation commissioner Mohammad Mizanur Rahman and other officials at Ukhiya.
The meeting was attended by Sergio Gor, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen and other members of the delegation.
Meanwhile, groups of Rohingya refugees gathered along roads near the camps holding placards and calling for their repatriation to Myanmar under the supervision of the United Nations and the international community.
The refugees said they were willing to return to their homeland if they were guaranteed safety, dignity and citizenship rights.
The US delegation was scheduled to return to Dhaka later in the evening after concluding the day-long visit to the camps.
By Mohammad Morshed and Abdu Rashid Manik
Photo: Mohammad Morshed
