The UK and the US have pushed for the “safe, voluntary and dignified” return of the Rohingya people to their homes in Rakhine state.
In a statement on Tuesday on the three years anniversary of the latest exodus that began on August 25 in 2017, the UK said, "today, we pay tribute to the extraordinary generosity of the people and government of Bangladesh in hosting Rohingya refugees, especially over the last three years."
“We also acknowledge the incredible resilience, courage and tenacity of Rohingya people in the face of adversity. We will continue advocating for accountability on the part of Myanmar for crimes committed against the Rohingya population, and push for the safe, voluntary and dignified return of the Rohingya people to their homes in Rakhine state.”
Since the beginning of the current crisis in 2017, the UK has been supporting Rohingya refugees with emergency lifesaving and life sustaining support and prioritising our assistance to reduce pressure on the host community.
Over the last three years, the UK has contributed more than £256 million in response to the Rohingya refugee crisis.
“We will continue to work together with the Government of Bangladesh, the UN, international partners and host communities to assess evolving needs and respond promptly,” read the statement.
US Ambassador in Dhaka Earl Miller earlier in an event on Monday said the international community must continue to press Myanmar to establish conditions to allow for safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable return of forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Bangladesh.
“This should continue to be a priority, in my view, even in the context of COVID, to prepare Rohingya for voluntary repatriation to Burma (Myanmar) once conditions allow,” he said.
Beyond Bangladesh’s borders, Miller said, it is also up to the international community to take action. “Such action must take place in New York, Geneva, The Hague, and here in the region”.
He said Rohingya repatriation will also reduce the risk of radicalization, criminality, and other anti-social behavior in the region. “We must continue to press Burma to respect human rights, allow unhindered humanitarian access, adhere to the ceasefire, and engage in political dialogue to pursue peace”.
He said the US would continue to be a leader in providing humanitarian assistance, applying diplomatic pressure, and serving as a catalyst in the regional and global response to the Rohingya crisis.
Miller said the US has taken strong action to promote justice for Rohingya victims and accountability for those responsible while it appreciates the sustained commitment of Australia, Canada, The Gambia, and the European Union, in particular, to hold perpetrators to account.
He highly lauded Bangladesh’s generous role, saying that it has set an example for the world of humanity and decency by opening its heart and borders to almost one million displaced Rohingya.
“When you visit the Rohingya camps you can be heartbroken by the inhumanity in Burma that caused this crisis. But one can also be inspired by Bangladesh’s response and the nations that support you,” Miller said.
The US ambassador described the USA’s humanitarian support responding to the crisis though he reminded that “resolving this crisis is more than just humanitarian assistance”.
The United States is the leading single contributor of humanitarian assistance in response to the Rohingya crisis, providing more than $951 million since the escalation of violence in August 2017, nearly $799 million for programs inside Bangladesh.
More than $22 million is for COVID-19 prevention efforts in Bangladesh, including in Cox’s Bazar Rohingya refugee camps.
