International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Deputy Director General (DDG) for Operations Ugochi Daniels has advocated for greater efforts to jointly address climate change and human mobility at national, regional and global levels.

“Ahead of COP 27, we need to redouble our efforts to ensure the climate change discourse reflects the climate migration nexus, and that this is recognized by the international community,” she said.

DDG Daniels discussed the issues during her discussions with government officials and international humanitarian and development actors.

The World Bank estimates that by 2050 one in every seven people in Bangladesh will have been displaced by climate change.

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Daniels called for continued support to Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh.

During her five-day visit to Bangladesh, she praised the government of Bangladesh’s exemplary role in migration management and tackling climate change.

IOM has been supporting the government of Bangladesh (GoB) since 1992 and has had an uninterrupted presence in the country since 1998.

"Bangladesh should be recognized for the important role they play in hosting more than 900,000 Rohingya refugees and their leadership as a ‘champion country’ of the Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration," said DDG Daniels.

Daniels visited the world's largest refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, which hosts more than 900,000 Rohingya who have sought refuge in Bangladesh. Most fled violence in Myanmar nearly five years ago.

“As the government of Bangladesh continues to provide humanitarian assistance, ongoing support from the international community is crucial until the situation in Myanmar allows for Rohingya refugees to voluntarily return in a safe and dignified manner,” said DDG Daniels.

In Cox’s Bazar, IOM has been providing life-saving assistance, including shelter, health services, water and other emergency items to Rohingya Refugees since 2017.

During her visit, DDG Daniels viewed environment friendly initiatives such as a sustainable solid waste management facility, the world’s largest humanitarian solar powered water supply system and a cleaner energy provision system all designed and implemented by IOM.

She noted that many of these initiatives could be scalable at the national level.

“The protracted nature of this crisis requires us to scale up the creative and innovative response to this unique situation. We need to continue to build the resilience of the refugees to ensure they live with dignity in the face of reduced humanitarian funding,” DDG Daniels added.

Earlier this year, IOM issued an appeal for USD 139 million to support 1.4 million refugees and host community members in the country.

In Dhaka, Daniels met State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md. Enamur Rahman; Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Dr Ahmed Munirus Saleheen, among other diplomats, UN officials and civil society representatives.

Commenting on the DDG’s visit to Bangladesh, Abdusattor Esoev, IOM Bangladesh’s Chief of Mission, said the high-level visit is very timely and reflects the importance of the government of Bangladesh to IOM, and the organization’s continued commitment to support people on the move in this country.

Every year, approximately one million Bangladeshis migrate abroad, while the 13 million nationals who have been employed overseas since 1976 contribute to national development through remittances.