11 nations vow to stand beside BD to end Rohingya crisis

A total of 11 nations have put their sincere attention to the humanitarian catastrophe of the Rohingyas and vowed to stand beside Bangladesh to address the long-standing crisis.

The French Embassy in Dhaka issued the joint statement on its X and Facebook page on Monday.

The high commissions of Canada to Bangladesh, Australia, the UK, the Embassy of Denmark, the Royal Norwegian Embassy, the Embassy of Switzerland, the Embassy of Sweden, the Embassy of the Netherlands, the Embassy of Italy, the Embassy of Finland and the Embassy of New Delhi are the signatories of the joint statement.

The statement said, “Eight years on, we reflect on the Myanmar military’s actions causing the mass displacement of Rohingya. Today, over 1.1 million Rohingya remain displaced in Bangladesh, and new arrivals continue to seek refuge in the camps. We acknowledge the resilience of Rohingya in the face of their ongoing hardship and displacement, amid the current deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Rakhine State. We wish to express our deep appreciation for the ongoing generosity of the Interim Government and the people of Bangladesh, who are providing shelter and safety to the Rohingya, including new arrivals, hosting them and supporting the provision of life-saving humanitarian assistance.”

Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh want to return to their homes. The international community remains committed to finding pathways towards repatriation. However, cross-border displacement continues, many Rohingya in Rakhine remain internally displaced, and conditions in Myanmar do not currently allow for their voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return. These conditions can only be met by addressing the root causes of their displacement, which requires a peaceful and stable Myanmar, it said.

“We therefore recognise that a timeline for the return of the Rohingya cannot yet be established and stress to all actors the urgent need to support efforts to create a conducive environment.”

“We condemn the escalating violence and human rights abuses committed by the military regime and other armed actors and reiterate our call for an immediate end to all acts of violence and for safe and unimpeded humanitarian access. We also reiterate our call for the military regime to release those unjustly detained. We remain firmly committed to supporting international efforts for accountability for violations of international humanitarian law and other grave human rights abuses.”

“We will continue to work with the Government of Bangladesh and the international community to focus attention on the situation in Myanmar and the related humanitarian crisis in Bangladesh, including at the upcoming High-Level Conference in September 2025. We advocate for more durable solutions for Rohingya refugees, such as enhancing self-reliance for Rohingya, especially in light of reduced humanitarian funding to the Rohingya response, while also preparing and equipping refugees for their eventual return to Myanmar. We will also continue to support Bangladeshi communities in Cox’s Bazar who are generously hosting the refugee population,” read the statement.

“We underscore the importance of ensuring meaningful engagement and inclusive representation of Rohingya to make empowered decisions and enable them to live safe, purposeful and dignified lives whilst they are in Bangladesh. After eight years, the international community stands steadfast with the Rohingya and Bangladesh, committed to seeking long-term durable solutions to the crisis and address its root causes,” added the statement.