Guterres calls on the international community to continue seeking solutions to the Rohingya refugee crisis

As we mark the fifth anniversary of the massive forced displacement of Rohingya and people from other communities from Myanmar’s Rakhine state to Bangladesh, the General secretary The UN called on the international community to continue seeking comprehensive, lasting and inclusive solutions to the crisis.

In a statement issued by the António Guterres Spokesperson’s Office, it is recalled that, after the military takeover in February 2021, lhe humanitarian, human rights and security situation in Myanmar has deteriorated.

“Nearly one million refugees remain refugees in Bangladesh, with no immediate prospect of return, while more than 150,000 Rohingya remain confined to camps in Rakhine,” warned the UN head.

The Secretary-General noted “the aspirations for an inclusive future among the country’s many ethnic and religious groups” and stressed “that the full and effective participation of the Rohingya people is an inherent part of a Myanmar-led solution to the crisis.”

Guterres described as “crucial” the fact of obtaining greater humanitarian access to the affected areas by the United Nations and its partners and recalled that the perpetrators of all international crimes committed in Mynamar must be held accountable.

“Justice for victims will contribute to a sustainable and inclusive political future for the country and its people,” concluded the Secretary General.

In praise of the solidarity of Bangladesh

The Secretary-General’s special envoy for Myanmar, Noeleen Heyzer, stressed that Bangladesh continues to show “great generosity and leadership in hosting refugees”, a situation that requires “renewed international attention” and “equitable burden sharing by of the countries of the region and abroad.

“The generosity of Bangladesh and host communities towards Rohingya refugees in their time of need reveals the compelling demand for greater international and regional engagement to share the burden and ensure that the Rohingya are not forgotten,” he said.

Nearly a million Rohingya refugees continue to live in camps in Bangladesh, with tens of thousands more across the region, and more than 140,000 internally displaced people remain confined to camps in Rakhine.

Heyzer recalled that the Rohingya continue to undertake dangerous journeys by land and sea and that they continue to be exposed to various forms of exploitation, such as human trafficking and gender-based violence.

The Special Envoy emphasized that the responsibility for establishing conditions conducive to the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of all refugees and displaced persons to their country ultimately rests with Myanmar.

Bangladesh Response Plan funding is only at 49%

During his visit to the refugee camps in Bangladesh, Heyzer was able to observe the hard work that UN agencies do among many humanitarian actors.

“In this operationally challenging context, I have seen the resilience and hope of the Rohingya, as well as the innovative and empowering activities carried out by UN agencies and their partners, and the leadership of the Bangladeshi authorities, all while the refugees remain in Bangladesh and await durable solutions to their plight,” he stressed.

Refugees shared their testimonies about the horrendous experiences they endured when they were uprooted from their homes, repeatedly expressed their desire to return to Myanmar in safety and dignity, and their messages were very clear: “return to your homes, have freedom of movement and rights. of citizenship”.

Hayzer highlighted the importance of education and vocational training as tools to prepare for their return to Myanmar to improve their opportunities throughout their lives and to prepare them to contribute to a more inclusive and peaceful future.

The current situation in which refugees and host communities live requires continued support from the international community. The 2022 Bangladesh Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis Joint Response Plan, which seeks more than $881 million to meet the needs of more than one million people, including the most affected Rohingya refugees and host communities, it is only 49% financed so far.

Women who suffered sexual violence demand justice

For her part, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, called on the international community to continue to act in solidarity with the Rohingya people and urged to intensify work related to justice and accountability to survivors of sexual violence

“I appreciate the extremely generous response of the Government of Bangladesh to the Rohingya refugee crisis, in a context of limited resources. In these circumstances, I urge the international community to take action and continue to stand in solidarity with the Rohingya survivors of serious international crimes with the in order to guarantee access to justice and reparation, which is essential for recovery and peace,” he said.

During her visits to refugee camps in 2017 and 2018, Patten witnessed the “visible scars on women and girls from the sexual violence they suffered. All the women I spoke to said they wanted to see perpetrators punished. They all – without exception – demanded justice,” he added.

Since 2010, the Secretary-General’s annual reports on conflict-related sexual violence have documented patterns of crimes of sexual violence in Myanmar. Furthermore, in 2019, the International Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar concluded that “rape and sexual violence are part of a deliberate strategy to intimidate, terrorize or punish the civilian population, and are used as a tactic of war”

Patten indicated that Burmese society has now begun to urge its leaders to recognize the Rohingya as an ethnic nationality, entitled to citizenship and other collective and individual rights, and to ensure accountability and redress for crimes committed. Against them.

“We must heed the call of the people of Myanmar and work collectively to ensure justice that has been delayed for too long. I reiterate my call for the international community to redouble its efforts to continue to support the dignity and well-being of the Rohingya community and for ensure that perpetrators are held accountable and that survivors have effective access to reparations and compensation,” the special representative concluded.

UNICEF/Roger LeMoyne

Rohingya refugees queue for food and other supplies at a refugee camp in Bangladesh. (File photo).

Heavy dependency on humanitarian aid and the danger of monsoons

For its part, the International Organization for Migration He recalled that the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh remain totally dependent on humanitarian aid.

The groups or people with the most specific needs are the disabled, households headed by women or people without access to livelihood opportunities, which makes them vulnerable to falling into human trafficking networks.

These organizations employ different tactics to lure refugees to work outside the camp and abroad using false claims, coercion and kidnapping. The Organization identified and assisted more than 1,300 victims of trafficking.

With the monsoon season underway, which has already caused historic flooding in northeast Bangladesh, heavy rains could pose further danger to Rohingya temporary homes made of tarpaulin and bamboo.

In 2021, heavy monsoon rains in the camps caused massive flooding affecting nearly 30,000 people; 19,000 were displaced again and lost their homes.