UNHCR
  •  Make a Donation
  •  Contact Us
UNHCR
  • Search
  • Hong Kong
  • Menu

Select a language for this section:

English 繁體中文

Select a language for our global site:

English Français Español عربي
Select a country or regional site:
  •  Make a Donation
  •  Contact Us

Share

Facebook X
  •  About Us
    • Figures at a Glance
    • The High Commissioner
    • Prominent Supporters
    •  National Goodwill Ambassador
    •  Nansen Refugee Award
    • Job Opportunities
    •  FAQ of Refugees
    •  Financial Information
    • Contact Us
  • Emergencies
    • Winter Survival Fund 2023
    • Ukraine Emergency
    • Afghanistan Situation
    • Sahel emergency
    • DR Congo emergency
    • Cameroon emergency
    • Ethiopia Tigray Emergency
    • 11 Years Syria Emergency
    • Venezuela emergency
    • Central African Republic Situation
    • Nigeria Emergency
    • Burundi situation
    • South Sudan emergency
    • Bangladesh Rohingya Emergency
    • Yemen Emergency
    • Coronavirus outbreak
    • Europe Situation
  •  What We Do
    •  UNHCR Work
    •  Who We Help
    •  Where We Work
    •  Sub-Office Hong Kong
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Education
    • Environment, Disasters and Climate Change
    • The Global Compact on Refugees
    • Cash Assistance
    • Unaccompanied Refugee Children
    • Our fight against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment
    • Protect LGBTI Refugees
    • 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
    • Access to Education Guide
  •  Get Involved
    • Hope Away From Home Petition
    • Shop for Refugees : Send Gifts to Refugee Families
    •  Donate Online
    • Donor Survey
    • Private Partners
    • Leave a Legacy of Love
    •  Subscribe Enews
    •  Face-to-Face Fundraising
    • R-Connect Community Engagement Program
    • Become a Fundraiser: Every Birthday Counts
    • Internship
  • Events and Activities
    • World Refugee Day
    • City Canvas Project
    • NADIMA 2: New Hope for Refugees
    • The 16th Charity Refugee Film Festival
    • Refugee Paralympic Team
    • Refugee Olympic Team
    • Youth with Refugees Art Contest 2023
  •  News And Stories
    • News
    • Stories
    •  Newsletters & Reports
  •  Donate
    • MADE51 – Handcrafts By Refugees
    • Shop for Refugees : Send Gifts to Refugee Families
    • Leave a Legacy of Love
    • Aiming Higher
    • Donate Your Birthday
    • Donate Your Zakat
    •  Donate Online
    •  Other Ways to Donate
    •  FAQ of Donation
    • Update Donor Information
    • Contact Us
Search UNHCR
Close Search
 
  • Home

UNHCR notes Bangladesh, Myanmar talks; stresses importance of returns meeting international standards

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

16 Jan 2018

Mohamad Kashim (40) and his daughter Purmin (2) are among thousands of new Rohingya refugee arrivals crossing the border from Myanmar to Bangladesh near near Anjuman Para village. © UNHCR/Roger Arnold

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, notes yesterday’s (15 January) meeting of the Joint Working Group on returns between the Governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar, in Naypiydaw, Myanmar. They reportedly discussed the implementation of their bilateral arrangement signed on 23 November 2017 on the return of refugees who have been arriving from Rakhine State in Myanmar into Bangladesh since 25 August. UNHCR underscores the importance of the dialogue between the two States at the core of which is the right of refugees to voluntarily return home. To ensure that the refugees are heard and their protection guaranteed in Bangladesh and on return in Myanmar, we are willing to be part of these discussions.

UNHCR understands that in yesterday’s discussions, Bangladesh and Myanmar focused on the modalities for the return of refugees to Myanmar. In any refugee situation, UNHCR hopes that refugees will be able to return home when they themselves choose to. Before considering return to Myanmar, some Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh have informed UNHCR staff that they would need to see positive developments in relation to their legal status and citizenship, the security situation in Rakhine State, and their ability to enjoy basic rights back home.

Major challenges have to be overcome. These include ensuring that refugees are informed about the situation in their areas of origin and potential return and consulted on their wishes; that their safety is ensured throughout – on departure, in transit and on return; and that the environment in the areas of return is conducive for safe and sustainable return.

In this context, we have observed that the Government of Myanmar has endorsed the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission (RAC) lead by Kofi Annan and reiterated its commitment in the bilateral Arrangement with the Government of Bangladesh. A comprehensive implementation of the Rakhine Advisory Commission recommendations is essential to ensure sustainable return. These stress the importance of ensuring peace and security for all communities in Rakhine State, reducing communal divisions, and achieving solutions for the legal and citizenship status of Muslim communities. We look to Myanmar to urgently implement these recommendations.

In Myanmar, UNHCR and our partners need urgent, unhindered access in Rakhine State, in order to assess the situation and provide support to those in need who are still in Rakhine and to help with rebuilding efforts. While a few agencies have regained limited access in the northern part of Rakhine State, UNHCR staff are not currently authorised to travel outside Maungdaw town.

Meanwhile humanitarian efforts continue in Bangladesh. Over the weekend, UNHCR and our partners started relocating more than 9,400 refugees who had been living in isolated border locations in Bangladesh, to Kutupalong refugee camp.

These refugees had initially chosen to stay near the border to remain close to their homes. Their isolated location also meant that they received little assistance and had no access to informal education or medical facilities. The nearest hospital for emergency cases was more than an hour away.

They agreed to move to Kutupalong refugee settlement where they could more easily access assistance and basic services.

In the last two days more than four hundred of these refugees have been taken by buses to Kutupalong camp where they underwent medical checks, and received hot meals, emergency relief items as well as shelter kits. They told UNHCR staff they were very happy to be in the camp with other members of their community, to get help and be able to sleep in peace. The relocation movements will continue over the next few weeks.

 

For more information on this topic, please contact:

  • In Cox’s Bazar, Caroline Gluck, [email protected], +880 187 269 9849
  • In Bangkok, Vivian Tan, [email protected], +66 818 270 280
  • In Geneva, Andrej Mahecic, [email protected], +41 79 642 97 09

 

About UNHCR:

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. UNHCR leads international action to protect people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. UNHCR delivers life-saving assistance like shelter, food and water, helps safeguard fundamental human rights, and develops solutions that ensure people have a safe place to call home where they can build a better future. UNHCR also works to ensure that stateless people are granted a nationality. UNHCR’s dedicated teams are on the ground in some 128 countries across the world, working in partnership with governments, NGOs, the private sector, community groups, host communities as well as refugees.

Donate Now

Subscribe to Enews

Follow Us

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

 

See also

Bangladesh: A farmer opens his farm and his heart to hundreds of Rohingya refugees

Orphaned Rohingya Refugee Sisters Face Daunting Future

Voice from the field: A UNHCR Emergency Response Coordinator in Bangladesh

  •  About Us
  • Emergencies
  •  What We Do
  •  Latest Updates
  • Donate Now

© UNHCR 2001-2023

  •  Contact Us
  •  Privacy Notice
  •  Request for Proposals
  • Job Opportunities
  • Follow
Subscribe to our Enewsletter