Norway, UNDP ink deal to foster harmony in Rohingya camps

The Norwegian government today signed an agreement with UNDP for the period 2019-2021, aimed at fostering harmony in Rohingya camps and host communities in Cox's Bazar.

Sidsel Bleken, Norwegian ambassador to Bangladesh, and Sudipto Mukerjee, resident representative, UNDP Bangladesh signed the agreement worth US$747,306 at the UNDP office in the capital.

Under this agreement, UNDP will conduct research to understand drivers of social tensions in Rohingya camps and host communities in Cox's Bazar affected by the Rohingya crisis since August 2017.

Sudipto Mukerjee said this initiative will help to strengthen the development work in Cox's Bazar after Rohingya crisis and promote peace and tolerance in the camps and host communities.

Besides, Norwegian Ambassador to Bangladesh Sidsel Bleken, said Norway continues its support for implementation and monitoring of SDG 16: peace, justice and strong institutions around the world, and has been working to resolve the Rohingya crisis.

"The agreement hopefully will pave the way for building a peaceful and inclusive society in Cox's Bazar," she said after inking the deal.

Following brutal military crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine State, more than 750,000 Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh since August 2017 and joined some 300,000, who had faced earlier waves of violence since 1980s.

According to reports, host communities, who had welcomed the Rohingya in 2017, are now expressing dissatisfaction over the presence of the Rohingyas as the latter are putting economic and environmental pressure in the area.