EU wants UN humanitarian protection team to visit Bhasan Char though Rohingyas are satisfied
Rumi Akter Polly of DOT
[2] Though Rohingya leaders recently expressed satisfaction over the situation there, European Union (EU) Ambassador to Bangladesh Rensje Teerink has laid emphasis on visits by UN technical and humanitarian protection teams to Bhasan Char, reports UNB. [3] She said, “While the first recent go and see visit was a welcome step, it would also be important that the proposed UN technical and protection assessments are also able to proceed, as well as the separate humanitarian and protection visits to assess the situation for the 306 refugees already relocated there.” [4] Representatives of the international community in Bangladesh, including Ambassadors of the United States and the European Union, the British High Commissioner, the Head of Humanitarian Aid of the Canadian High Commission, the Country Director of the World Bank, and the United Nations Resident Coordinator, visited Cox’s Bazar and the Rohingya camps on Wednesday and Thursday.
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World Bank Country Director, Mercy Tembon said, “We’ve been with Bangladesh since the early days of this crisis and will continue to scale up development assistance to Cox’s Bazar, having already provided more than half a billion dollars in grants. This crisis can’t and won’t be forgotten.”
During discussions with the delegation, refugees shared how the Covid-19 situation is impacting their daily lives and how they see the future.
“Refugees have continued to play a critical role in helping their own communities protect themselves against Covid-19. They’re the backbone of the response and their contributions should be fully recognised,” highlighted Canada’s Head of Humanitarian Aid, Phedra Moon Morris.
The delegation also discussed and observed efforts to keep the camps and surrounding areas safe and secure in Cox’s Bazar.
“The authorities continue to play an absolutely critical role in ensuring the safety and security of the Rohingya settlements and the host communities,” said British High Commissioner, Robert Chatterton Dickson.
With any additional and necessary measures, he said they encouraged full humanitarian access needs to be maintained to the camps and that consultations with affected communities continue to take place.