A UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) official has called for continued international support for Rohingya refugees and their host country Bangladesh.
UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Kelly T. Clements and UNHCR Director for Asia and the Pacific Indrika Ratwatte undertook a visit to Bangladesh on Feb. 13-18, which included visits to the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, as well as to the island of Bhasan Char, a UNHCR statement said.
Nearly 750,000 Rohingya Muslims fled a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine state in August 2017 to Bangladesh, pushing the total number of persecuted people in the world’s largest refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar to around 1.2 million.
The statement said that the visit underscored the need for a more comprehensive approach to humanitarian support.
“This includes alternative solutions for Rohingya refugees such as resettlement to third countries for the most vulnerable with specific protection needs, and complementary pathways overseas which could include employment and educational opportunities,” it said.
Clements reiterated UNHCR’s commitment towards voluntary repatriation and other solutions.
The UNHCR officials also held meetings with senior government officials, local and international partners in Bangladesh, and spoke with refugees to understand their needs and challenges.
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