Baroness Jenny Chapman, the UK Minister for International Development, visited Cox's Bazar on Thursday to review the humanitarian assistance programs for Rohingya refugees and the local host community.
The minister embarked on a day-long tour of various camps in Ukhiya, where she inspected key initiatives in education, women's empowerment, and skill development.
According to sources, Minister Chapman arrived in Cox's Bazar from Dhaka on an Air Astra flight at 7:30 am. She then proceeded to Balukhali Camp-7 in Ukhiya, accompanied by representatives from the UNHCR.
Her first stop was a Learning Centre run with support from UNICEF and Friendship. There, she observed the teaching environment and learning materials for Rohingya children and held discussions with the educators.
Following this, the UK minister visited a Women-Friendly Centre, where she spoke directly with Rohingya women. Baroness Chapman showed particular interest in understanding how the women are achieving self-reliance through homestead gardening, handicrafts, and other small-scale entrepreneurial ventures.
Later, she visited a food distribution centre operated by the World Food Programme (WFP). At the centre, she observed the aid distribution process and listened to the experiences of the beneficiaries.
In the afternoon, the minister visited a soap production and skill development program in the Madhurchhara area, which is run by UNHCR and a local partner, LSDSS.
Despite attempts to contact him for comments on the visit, Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, the Commissioner of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission (RRRC), could not be reached on his mobile phone.
The visit underscores the continued international focus on the Rohingya refugee situation and the critical support provided by donor nations like the United Kingdom for the relief and rehabilitation efforts in Cox's Bazar.
