UN General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir has expressed their determination to ensure a better future for the Rohingyas, a persecuted minority of Myanmar.
“I assure you, the United Nations General Assembly is determined to ensure a better future for the Rohinga people,” he said after his visit to the camps in Cox’s Bazar where nearly a million Myanmar nationals took shelter after fleeing persecution in Rakhine State.
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Rohingyas have been taking refuge in Bangladesh since 1980s.
Most of the refugees in Bangladesh fled military crackdown in Rakhine in 2017, which was dubbed as genocide.
Repeated attempts of repatriation failed as the conditions of Rakhine state have not been conducive for return – a situation that puts huge burden on Bangladesh.
Volkan arrived in Bangladesh on May 25. He has called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, and delivered a speech on Bangladesh and UN’s relationship. He also met with UN country team, led by UN Resident Coordinator Mia Seppo, and then visited the Rohingya camps on Wednesday.
He met Rohingya leaders and received a briefing on the camp from the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Shah Rezwan Hayat.
In the statement issued yesterday following the visit, Volkan thanked Bangladesh for sheltering and providing humanitarian assistance to the Rohingyas. “The Rohingyas living in Cox’s Bazar have survived unimaginable horrors and persecution. They undertook treacherous journeys to reach safety – last year alone 200 lost their lives at sea. In recent weeks, a fire broke out here in the camp, yet they persist,” he said.
“Right now, there is no defined path to the future, to a permanent home. Voluntary, dignified and safe return is the ultimate goal however the humanitarian need in Myanmar is increasing,” Volkan said.
In Rakhine State, there is an estimated 600,000 Rohingya, of which 144,000 are living in 21 displacement camps as well as among the host community since 2012.
“We must not forget the order of the International Court of Justice in 2020 that everything possible should be done to prevent a genocide against the Rohingya people,” Volkan Bozkir said.
Mentioning the military takeover of Myanmar on February 1 and reports of insecurity, clashes, arrest and use of excessive force against protesters, Volkan said it is not too late for the military to reverse the negative trajectory on the ground and respect peoples’ will.
“The military must exercise restraint and help foster a path back to civilian rule in line with the outcome of the recent elections,” he said.
The UNGA President also reiterated the call for Myanmar’s military to grant the UN Special Envoy, Christine Schraner Burgener, access to Myanmar to assess the situation first-hand under agreeable conditions while fostering the conditions for a frank and open dialogue.
“The world has not given up on Myanmar. we have not forgotten the plight of the Rohingya people,” Volkan’s statement said.
