Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) DrYousef A. Al Othaimeen has urged Myanmar to honour its commitments as to its pledged full cooperation with Bangladesh regarding the repatriation of the Rohingyas to their place of origin in Rakhine State.
He called upon the international community to keep up its support to Bangladesh over Rohingya issue as Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas.
The OIC Secretary General also urged Myanmar to shoulder its responsibility in providing indiscriminate protection to all citizens as well as full observance of all international human rights agreements, according to OIC headquarters.
Secretary General Othaimeen and Prime Minister SheikhaHassina attended a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York and discussed the Rohingya issue.
Othameen paid tribute to the efforts made by the Prime Minister Hasina and the people of Bangladesh in their generous hospitality to over one million Rohingyas, offering them shelter and care, in addition to Bangladesh’s firm commitment to the cause of the Rohingya.
The OIC Secretary General has commended Saudi Arabia’s efforts for the Rohingyas and advocated support for Bangladesh.
Othaimeen expressed the OIC’s deep appreciation and gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the King Salman Centre for Relief and Humanitarian Action which has been “diligently” keeping a watch on humanitarian developments pertaining to the mass exodus of the Rohingya Muslim minority and extending its much needed support to them.
He also paid tribute to the Kingdom for the announcement made by its Foreign Minister Dr Ibrahim Al Assaf relevant to its US$ 10 million donation to meet the needs of the Rohingyas, according to OIC.
Also, on the occasion of the event organized by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s 74th Session in New York, the OIC Secretary General said they gathered there to discuss the “heartbreaking tragedy” endured by the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar.
He said, Myanmar forced large numbers of them to flee for their lives from their homes to neighboring countries or to other distant places.
Othaimeen also reviewed the efforts put in by the OIC in this regard, with its several campaigns to raise awareness about this issue and to offer humanitarian aids to the Rohingya people.
He noted, as an illustration, that in 2012, diligent efforts were made at both the regional and international levels to assist in providing protection to the Rohingyas.
