Rohingya crisis: EU for a ‘Whole of Cox’s Bazar approach

Staff Reporter :

Ambassador and Head of the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh, Michael Miller, has emphasised that all parties involved-Bangladesh, the EU, and most importantly the Rohingya people-share a common desire for the return of the refugees.

However, he pointed out that conditions necessary for a safe, sustainable, voluntary, and dignified return are currently absent. He shared his insights from a recent visit to the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar with the media.

Miller highlighted that the solution to the prolonged Rohingya crisis is fundamentally “political” and advocated for a collaborative approach with Dhaka, promoting a “Whole of Cox’s Bazar” strategy.

“All of us, including Bangladesh, the EU, and, most crucially, the Rohingya themselves, wish to see the refugees return.

However, the conditions for a safe, voluntary, and dignified return are not yet in place,” he told the media, discussing his recent visit to the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar.

The ambassador noted that a shift or “evolution” in the response strategy is needed, focusing on enhancing resilience.

This includes exploring the possibility of building sturdier shelters, which would help ensure that donor funding is used more efficiently. Several shelter prototypes are currently being tested.

“It should also involve promoting resilience among the refugees and expanding access to digital education to prevent individuals from falling into criminal activity, exploitation, or being recruited to fight in Myanmar,” he added.

The European Union has committed significant humanitarian aid, including €300,000 to support the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar, which were devastated by a recent disaster.

Ambassador Miller acknowledged the significant burden Bangladesh faces in hosting over 1.3 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.

For 2024, the EU has allocated €43 million in humanitarian aid for the Rohingya response, with an additional €35 million in development funding planned over the next three years.

“We are supporting both the refugees and the local communities,” said Miller. “That’s why I visited Cox’s Bazar in October-to understand the situation on the ground, listen to the concerns of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas, and determine how to maximize the impact and sustainability of our funding.”

Security concerns were the dominant topic raised in the camps, he reported.
“Outside the camps, we have been working to promote a vibrant economy at the interface between the local community and the camps.

The positive feedback from this collaboration reinforces my belief that we should continue working with Dhaka to support a ‘Whole of Cox’s Bazar’ approach,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus has proposed organizing an international conference involving all stakeholders to discuss the Rohingya issue.

This proposal has garnered widespread international support, according to Mohammad Rafiqul Alam, spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The goal of the conference is to build political consensus on a practical framework for the safe and sustainable repatriation and reintegration of the Rohingya in Myanmar.

Alam also emphasized that the conference would address the underlying causes of the crisis, as well as tackle socio-economic, environmental, and security challenges caused by the long-term impact of the Rohingya situation.

“We hope the conference will address ways to increase international commitment to resolving the crisis, strengthen integrated humanitarian and development efforts, and support accountability for crimes committed against the Rohingya,” Alam added.

Prof. Yunus has called for urgent attention to the Rohingya crisis, stressing the need for a sustainable solution that ensures the “safe and dignified” return of the Rohingya people to Myanmar.

“We cannot overlook the suffering of those who continue to face persecution, displacement, and human rights violations in Rakhine State (Myanmar) or Gaza.

No person, regardless of their identity or number, should be expendable,” he stated in October.