United News of Bangladesh

The United Kingdom (UK) on Saturday said they will continue to support collective efforts to find durable solutions for Rohinyga refugees, alongside assisting host communities with essential services and livelihood opportunities, in partnership with the government of Bangladesh. “While safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable returns remain the ambition, the UK will also help ensure Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh can live safely and with dignity, while building self-reliance through meaningful livelihoods,” said the British High Commission Dhaka in a statement marking the World Refugee Day. The British High Commission said they stand in solidarity with the 1.2 million Rohingya who fled from their homes in Myanmar and sought refuge in Bangladesh. The UK is a leading donor to the Rohingya response, providing over £452 million to support the Rohingya and host communities since 2017. The UK continues to provide life-saving assistance and shine an international spotlight on the crisis, to ensure that it is not forgotten amid emerging new crises.The country thanked the government and people of Bangladesh for continuing to host the Rohingya in their time of need.“We continue to honour the incredible resilience of the Rohingya people in adversity,” said the British High Commission. This year’s observation of World Refugee Day also marks the 75th anniversary of the Refugee Convention. The 1951 treaty, adopted in the aftermath of the Second World War, enshrined that anyone forced to flee war, conflict, or persecution has the right to seek safety and protection. UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a message calling for stronger support for people forced to flee and the communities that have welcomed them. “As divisions deepen across our world, new and protracted conflicts are compelling millions of women, children and men to seek safety far from home,” he said. He stressed that “these turbulent times” call for renewed solidarity and robust action to protect refugees. 

Switzerland’s Ambassador to Bangladesh Nathalie Chuard has said there is a growing global expectation to address the root causes of the Rohingya crisis and prepare the ground for a sustainable return of Rohingyas to their place of origin in Myanmar.