Newsman: The Secretary-General emphasized that the international community cannot turn its back on the Rohingya crisis.
“We cannot accept that the international community forgets about the Rohingyas,” he said, adding that he will “speak loudly” to world leaders that more support is urgently needed.
“It is essential that the international community does everything to make sure that peace is reestablished in Myanmar and that the rights of the Rohingyas are respected, that discrimination and persecution like the one we have witnessed in the past, will end.”
He stressed that the solution to the crisis “must be found in Myanmar.”
“We will not give up until conditions allow for the voluntary, safe and sustainable return for all refugees here.”
Mr. Guterres also highlighted the dire conditions in the camps, worsened by climate change.
“These camps – and the communities that host them – are on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Summers are scorching, and the chance of fires skyrocket. In the cyclone and monsoon seasons, floods and dangerous landslides destroy homes and lives,” he said.
Beyond immediate aid, he stressed the need for education, skills training and opportunities for the refugees, warning that many families feel they have no option but to risk perilous sea journeys in search of a better future.
Mr. Guterres ended his visit to Cox’s Bazar by participating in an Iftar meal with Rohingya refugees.
“Fasting and having an Iftar together with you are proof of my deep respect for your religion and your culture,” he said.
“This is the holy month of Ramadan, the month of solidarity. It would be unacceptable that in the month of solidarity, the international community would reduce the support to the Rohingyas in Bangladesh,” he added, stressing that he would do everything to ensure it does not happen.
