UNB, Dhaka :
The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to help resolve the Rohingya crisis saying that the right of these displaced people’s return to their place of origin in Myanmar’s Rakhine State must remain high on international agenda.
“We must make sure that Rohingyas’ right to return remains high on the international agenda,” said Penny Mordaunt, British Secretary of State for International Development and Minister for Women and Equalities.
While talking to a select group of journalists, including the UNB correspondent, the British Minister laid emphasis on unceasing joint efforts to protect both Rohingyas and the host communities here.
British High Commissioner in Dhaka Alison Blake was also present at the interaction held at the residence of the High Commissioner in the city.
Mordaunt, the first UK cabinet minister to visit Bangladesh since the December-30 elections, met Rohingyas living in Kutupalong camp at a food distribution centre, spoke to women being protected from violence, and saw how children with disabilities were getting the therapy and treatment they need, all supported by UK aid.
The plight of the Rohingyas must not be forgotten, she said during her second visit to Cox’s Bazar on Monday.
Since 25 August 2017, UK aid from British taxpayers has provided £129 million in funding to the Rohingya crisis and Mordaunt’s visit focused on exploring longer-term solutions by supporting education, developing skills and improving access to training opportunities.
During her meetings here, Mordaunt said she would push for the changes needed in Myanmar to help the Rohingyas return to their homes. But, she said, now is the time to look beyond short-term live-saving assistance support, to give them the skills they need to create sustainable lives-both for themselves and their families.
Minister Mordaunt said they will continue working to make sure that the conditions for people to go back are there in Rakhine and keep building national resilience to respond to weather events in Bangladesh.
She said they want to see Rohingyas’ desire to return home is fulfilled but the return requires favorable environment in Rakhine and elsewhere to ensure that they can live in peace and security; and the human rights issues are upheld.
Responding to a UNB question, the British Minister said the UK has been and will remain so absolutely at the forefront of those efforts.
She said they will continue focusing on the efforts to try and get required conditions in Myanmar apart from addressing accountability issue. “It’s extremely important.”
The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to help resolve the Rohingya crisis saying that the right of these displaced people’s return to their place of origin in Myanmar’s Rakhine State must remain high on international agenda.
“We must make sure that Rohingyas’ right to return remains high on the international agenda,” said Penny Mordaunt, British Secretary of State for International Development and Minister for Women and Equalities.
While talking to a select group of journalists, including the UNB correspondent, the British Minister laid emphasis on unceasing joint efforts to protect both Rohingyas and the host communities here.
British High Commissioner in Dhaka Alison Blake was also present at the interaction held at the residence of the High Commissioner in the city.
Mordaunt, the first UK cabinet minister to visit Bangladesh since the December-30 elections, met Rohingyas living in Kutupalong camp at a food distribution centre, spoke to women being protected from violence, and saw how children with disabilities were getting the therapy and treatment they need, all supported by UK aid.
The plight of the Rohingyas must not be forgotten, she said during her second visit to Cox’s Bazar on Monday.
Since 25 August 2017, UK aid from British taxpayers has provided £129 million in funding to the Rohingya crisis and Mordaunt’s visit focused on exploring longer-term solutions by supporting education, developing skills and improving access to training opportunities.
During her meetings here, Mordaunt said she would push for the changes needed in Myanmar to help the Rohingyas return to their homes. But, she said, now is the time to look beyond short-term live-saving assistance support, to give them the skills they need to create sustainable lives-both for themselves and their families.
Minister Mordaunt said they will continue working to make sure that the conditions for people to go back are there in Rakhine and keep building national resilience to respond to weather events in Bangladesh.
She said they want to see Rohingyas’ desire to return home is fulfilled but the return requires favorable environment in Rakhine and elsewhere to ensure that they can live in peace and security; and the human rights issues are upheld.
Responding to a UNB question, the British Minister said the UK has been and will remain so absolutely at the forefront of those efforts.
She said they will continue focusing on the efforts to try and get required conditions in Myanmar apart from addressing accountability issue. “It’s extremely important.”
