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UNHCR to Support Bangladesh in Resolving Rohingya Crisis
UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, affirmed his agency’s commitment to supporting Bangladesh in its efforts to find a lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis. Grandi made this pledge after meeting Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
“We stand ready to cooperate with you,” Grandi told Professor Yunus, who had sought the UNHCR’s assistance in organizing a major global conference later this year focused on the Rohingya crisis. The chief adviser stressed the need to reignite international attention on the issue, pointing out that the recent influx of an additional 100,000 refugees has further strained Bangladesh's resources. “The situation is getting complicated. They are pushing more Rohingyas into Bangladesh,” Yunus said.
Professor Yunus emphasized the importance of global focus on the plight of the Rohingyas, underscoring that their ongoing displacement poses significant humanitarian and logistical challenges.
Grandi also expressed gratitude for Bangladesh’s efforts in improving the living conditions of the refugees. "We thank the Bangladesh government for allowing Rohingyas to use better materials to build their shelters, a crucial step forward," he noted. Previously, refugees were only permitted to build shelters using bamboo and tarpaulins.
The two leaders also discussed the humanitarian situation in Myanmar's Rakhine State, where ongoing conflict between the Arakan Army and Myanmar’s military continues to exacerbate the crisis. In response, Professor Yunus revealed that he has appointed a high representative to coordinate efforts across government and international agencies to address the needs of the displaced Rohingya population.