ROHINGYA REPATRIATION
UNHCR mandated, but ICRC ready to support
ICRC delegation head tells The Independent
HUMAYUN KABIR BHUIYAN
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has joined Bangladesh and the international community to stress the need for involvement of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the repatriation process of hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas, who are forced to cross into Coxs Bazar owing to atrocities of the Myanmar security forces, local Buddhist mobs and different ethnic groups in Rakhine.
UNHCR is mandated for this. But, we are ready to support both Bangladesh and Myanmar in the repatriation process, Ikhtiyar Aslanov, head of delegation of the Bangladesh chapter of ICRC, told The Independent in an exclusive interview at his office on Wednesday.
His remarks came amidst reports that Myanmar is not willing to involve UNHCR in the repatriation process, rather it wants ICRC, contrary to the desire of Bangladesh as well as the majority of the international community.
Alanov, an Azerbaijan national, made it clear that the Myanmar authorities are yet to make any request for the involvement of his organisation with the repatriation process.
Referring to the agreement signed between Bangladesh and Myanmar on November 23 and the physical arrangement on January 16, he said that according to the instruments Myanmar will involve UNHCR at some point of the repatriation.
It is known that ICRC is the only major international organisation which has presence in the affected Rakhine state and is operating there in a limited scale.
Not only ICRC rather all
the international organisations should be given access to the affected areas of the Rakhine state, said the head of the delegation. During the interview, Aslanov detailed as to how the ICRC helped the Rohingyas mitigate their sufferings.
We tried to help the displaced people by providing food, non-food items and restoring family contacts between people living inside Bangladesh and along the border areas, he said, reminding that his organisation has to work with utmost caution to uphold its neutral image worldwide.
And, he added, the process has started to make communications between Rohingyas in Bangladesh and their near and dear ones living inside the Rakhine state.
The ICRC delegation head said that they are working with Bangladesh Red Crescent Society in Bandarban and Coxs Bazar districts.
He also informed that Rohingyas have been relocated from Bandarban to Coxs Bazar. Describing the situation with regard to the Rohingyas as fluid, Aslanov placed great emphasis on continued efforts to solve the protracted problem and expressed his satisfaction over the negotiations between Bangladesh and Myanmar.
It is important that Bangladesh and Myanmar remain engaged in dialogues and negotiations to resolve the crisis, he said.
The international diplomat also stressed the need for the implementation of the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission, popularly known as Annan commission, for the lasting and durable solution to the problem.
The international support to look after the Rohingyas should continue, he added. When asked what messages he is receiving from his ICRC colleagues in Rakhine state, Aslanov said, Situation is still tense.
When asked when he thinks the problem will be solved, the ICRC official would not come with any specific timeframe, saying, Its very difficult to specify any timeframe. We should not rush in this regard. The people should go back to their homes when the conditions are right, he said.
