March 28, 2024, 11:58 pm


SAM

Published:
2018-07-01 16:46:31 BdST

Dhaka to host 5 foreign dignitaries this week


FT ONLINE

International aid agencies have been facing continuous challenges in responding to the Rohingya refugee crisis for past ten months. The challenge for both aid agencies and the host country is meeting the basic needs of around a million refugees.

The Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis (JRP) received 22% of the appealed amount of $915 million till June 21, while the World Bank (WB) announced about half-a-billion dollars in grant-based support to help Bangladesh address the needs of Rohingya refugees in the fields of health, education, water and sanitation, disaster risk management, and social protection.

Hoping to draw the attention of the international community on the Rohingya crisis, and to raise funds for humanitarian response as a result, Dhaka is hosting five foreign dignitaries this week – United Nations(UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres, World Bank (WB) President Jim Yong Kim, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi, Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) Natalia Kanem, and President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Peter Maurer.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres arrived Dhaka at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by a Qatar Airways flight (QR 638) at 2:06am.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali received him at the airport. 

Both will have bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today in the morning. They will be accompanied by Filippo Grandi and Natalia Kanem to assess the progress towards a safe, voluntary, and dignified return of refugees in line with international standards, and review the humanitarian response made by UN organizations, a Foreign Ministry source said.

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim landed on Saturday afternoon.   

As per the schedule, Kim will hold a meeting with Finance Minister AMA Muhith at his office at noon on today. During this joint visit, they will also hold meetings with government authorities.

The delegates will travel to Cox’s Bazar on Monday to visit Rohingya refugee communities and humanitarian workers, and advocate for more donor support. They will have a press conference in Cox’s Bazar.

Both the Secretary-General and the World Bank President are expected to return on Tuesday. Before they leave the country, they will have a press conference in Dhaka where they will discuss their findings.

Meanwhile, Peter Maurer, who visited Myanmar, also landed in Bangladesh on Saturday. He will be here till July 3 to observe ICRC’s work in Rakhine State and Cox’s Bazar.

The Red Cross chief met affected communities and held meetings with representatives of the Myanmar government. Meetings in Myanmar included, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President of Myanmar U Win Myint.  In Bangladesh meetings with the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Home Affairs, among others, is foreseen.

“Humanitarian organizations are doing their best to alleviate the suffering in very difficult circumstances, especially as the monsoon season advances. However, ten months on, despite all the talking and all the efforts, many people are still suffering too much,” said Peter Maurer.

“While the emergency response continues, there must be urgent progress – from humanitarians, development actors, and the authorities – on building sustainable solutions,” he added.

ICRC President will also hold media briefings on both sides of the border.

Over 700,000 people fled to Bangladesh after the atrocities carried out by Myanmar army from August 2017.

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