Dhaka: The Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) has urged the international community to strengthen support for the Rohingyas as their displacement crisis enters its 10th year.
According to United News of Bangladesh, in a statement, the RRRC Office acknowledged the statement issued by St©phane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres, on August 24, marking nine years since the forced mass displacement of Rohingya and other communities from Myanmar. The statement highlights the deepening insecurity, shrinking protection space, and diminishing prospects for a durable solution confronting the Rohingya in Myanmar, Bangladesh, and across the region.
It also emphasizes the increasingly precarious humanitarian landscape, aggravated by dwindling international funding for life-saving assistance. The RRRC Office appreciates the UN Secretary-General’s renewed call to protect civilians, uphold international law, strengthen regional cooperation on search and rescue, and combat human trafficking, misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech targeting the Rohingya.
Bangladesh continues to fulfill its humanitarian responsibility with significant commitment and determination. However, after nine years of prolonged displacement, the burden has become increasingly challenging. The RRRC Office stated, “The international community must step up, rather than step back, from its collective responsibility towards the Rohingya and their host communities.”
The Secretary-General’s call for an inclusive and comprehensive political solution addressing the root causes of the crisis also deserves sustained international engagement. The RRRC Office emphasized, “Until conditions allow for voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return, humanitarian assistance, livelihood opportunities, and self-reliance support must continue without interruption.”
The RRRC Office remains dedicated to collaborating with the government of Bangladesh, the United Nations, humanitarian partners, and the international community to uphold the dignity and aspirations of the Rohingya while advancing conditions conducive to their safe, dignified, and sustainable return to Myanmar. The message from the UN Secretary-General arrives at a pivotal moment: the world must not look away from the Rohingya crisis; it must step up, stand firm, and pursue a durable solution.