Diplomatic Correspondent:
With aid cuts hitting camps hard, UN envoy Tom Andrews says Dhaka is keeping hope alive, as Yunus prepares to take the fight for a solution to New York
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, has praised Bangladesh for its continued leadership in addressing the Rohingya crisis, during a meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka on Thursday.
Mr Andrews commended Professor Yunus for keeping the plight of the Rohingyas high on the international agenda, noting in particular his initiative to convene a UN International Conference on the Rohingya issue at UN headquarters in New York on 30 September. “The world is grateful to Bangladesh for its generosity in hosting and supporting the Rohingyas, and to you for keeping alive the hope of a lasting solution,” he remarked.
The Chief Adviser said he was hopeful the upcoming conference would deliver concrete outcomes and provide a pathway towards resolving the crisis. At the same time, he warned that recent cuts in international assistance were undermining essential services for the nearly one million Rohingyas living in Bangladesh, particularly in health and education. He urged the UN to step up efforts to mobilise additional funding.
Mr Andrews acknowledged Bangladesh’s proactive engagement with global stakeholders but voiced concern that the UN Secretary-General’s proposal to establish a humanitarian channel in Myanmar’s Rakhine State had been obstructed by “malicious propaganda.” He nonetheless expressed confidence that sustained multilateral pressure could pave the way for a durable solution.
The UN envoy is in Bangladesh to attend a high-level dialogue on the Rohingya issue in Cox’s Bazar on 25 August, which Professor Yunus is due to inaugurate. The meeting will bring together government officials, international agencies and development partners to review humanitarian support and discuss future strategies.
Observers say the series of engagements underscores Bangladesh’s efforts to sustain international attention on the crisis amid growing concerns over donor fatigue and declining aid commitments. The September UN conference in New York is being closely watched as a potential platform to galvanise renewed international support and explore long-term solutions, including safe and voluntary repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar.
