Bangladesh
Rohingya Crisis UN could not raise even half of the Rohingya funds
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, August 24: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has urged the international donor community not to forget the Rohingya refugees who have taken refuge in Bangladesh.
They said there was a "significant shortfall" in the Rohingya relief fund. Not even half of the funds that were planned to be collected this year in support of these refugees and affected communities in Bangladesh have been collected.
More than one million Rohingyas are living in refugee camps in southern Bangladesh. It is the largest refugee settlement in the world. It is uncertain when these Rohingyas, deprived of various rights including citizenship, will be able to return to Myanmar.
In a statement on Tuesday (August 23) ahead of the fifth anniversary of the exodus of Rohingya refugees, the UNHCR said nearly one million stateless Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are in extremely crowded conditions and are completely dependent on humanitarian aid for survival.
The most unmet needs include proper nutrition, shelter materials, sanitation facilities, and livelihood opportunities, the statement said.
The UN agency said 88.10 crore US dollars were sought for 2022 to help more than 14 lakh people, including Rohingya refugees and 500,000 affected local communities. But so far only 42.62 crore dollars, i.e. 49 percent of the target, has been collected.
UNHCR said the cooperation of the international community was and is vital in providing life-saving protection and assistance to Rohingya refugees. But the funds are very less than the requirement.
The Rohingyas said, they cannot return to Myanmar, there are no job opportunities in Bangladesh either. Their future is uncertain. In this situation, the world should not forget the plight of the Rohingyas.
The Rohingyas said they want assurances of life security and recognition of citizenship before returning to Myanmar. According to the United Nations, suitable conditions have not yet been created for the repatriation of the Rohingyas.
In 2017, most of the Rohingyas fled to neighbouring Bangladesh in the face of persecution by the Myanmar military. The United Nations said the torture was carried out with the intention of genocide.
