UNHCR calls for renewed international support
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has called for renewed commitment from the international community for financial support to sustain the humanitarian response and political support to find solutions for nearly one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
The call comes as this week marks six years since some 750,000 Rohingyas from Myanmar fled to Bangladesh, joining some 300,000 others who had previously fled here.
"Steep decline in funds is forcing humanitarian actors to focus on the most critical and life-saving needs," it said in a satement.
This has for the first time led to reduction of refugees' food assistance, raising concerns about cascading dramatic consequences—rising malnutrition, school dropout, child marriage, child labour and gender-based violence.
UNHCR urges support to enable Rohingya to benefit from education and skills development, with vocational training and other forms of capacity-building.
"The international community must renew its efforts to make that possible. As the United Nations remains ready to support efforts to create the conditions that would be conducive to sustainable return, it is crucial that UNHCR and its partners are provided unimpeded, meaningful and predictable access in Rakhine State in Myanmar," said the agency.
In Bangladesh, it is equally important that UNHCR is able to independently assess the refugees' decisions, devoid of pressure or misinformation, it added.
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