All the Rohingyas, who took shelter in settlements in Cox’s Bazar to escape from the brutalities of the Myanmar security forces, local Buddhist mobs and people from other groups in Rakhine, want to return homes, but not now as the situation there is not safe,” Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF Justin Forsyth said yesterday. “All the families I have spoken to want to go back to their homes in Rakhine. But, not under the situation prevailing in Rakhine now,” he told a press conference at a local hotel concluding his two-day visit that included a trip to the Rohingya settlements in Cox’s Bazar. While sharing his interactions with the Rohingya men, women and children, Forsyth presented a grim picture of what has happened to the persecuted community in Rakhine, saying, “The level of violence has shocked me.”

The challenge is huge and everybody should play their part in resolving the crisis concerning so many vulnerable people, he said. About 12 lakh Rohinmgyas including 6.88 lakh arrivals since August 25, last year are now taking shelter in Cox’s Bazar. Describing the recommendations of the Annan Commission as roadmap for solution to the protracted problem, Forsyth said that there must be efforts to make Myanmar implement the recommendations as the government in Naypyitaw had agreed to implement these. Profusely praising Bangladesh for hosting the huge number of Rohingyas, he said that ensuring the safety and security of the Rohingyas is essential. Violence is still going on in Rakhine, he added. Not all, but nearly all women and girls

were raped in a systematic and organised way, said the UNICEF deputy chief, “It was a deliberate campaign.” “In one village, 40 girls were demanded from the elders by the Myanmar military. Some elders were killed as they refused,” he said.

To a volley of questions regarding the responsibility of the international community to force Myanmar to take back its people, the UNICEF deputy avoided a direct question and repeatedly emphasised on the implementation of the Annan Commission recommendations and ensuring finance to look after the Rohingyas in the settlements in Cox’s Bazar.

Some 58 per cent of the refugees are children, many of whom are still traumatised by their experiences of violence and they need to be looked after, said Forsyth, a national of the United Kingdom.

“We miss our home in Rakhine. But, we couldn’t sleep in Rakhine. Here in Bangladesh we can sleep,” he said quoting a young Rohingya boy as telling him.   

Some 80,000 Rohingya children have been brought under about 400 learning centres set up at the UNICEF initiative, said the official, adding that another 2.2 lakh children remain out of any learning facilities.

He said that if the Rohingya children are left without education there is a danger of a lost generation, which should not happen.

Forsyth warned that ahead of the cyclone and monsoon seasons, more than 5 lakh Rohingya children living in the congested settlements are at risk and efforts should be there to address the issue.

Myanmar to face stronger pressure in Feb: EU The European Union is likely to come up with a more genuine pressure on Myanmar in February so that it acts promptly and creates an environment for the sustainable return of Rohingyas to their homeland from Bangladesh, reports UNB.

"I'm sure there'll be new (EU) council conclusions on Myanmar in February. I hope there'll be more pressure. The only thing is to put more pressure on Myanmar," EU Head of Delegation Ambassador Rensje Teerink told UNB in an interview. In October last year, the Council of the EU in its conclusions said it may consider additional measures if the situation does not improve but also stands ready to respond accordingly to positive developments. The EU envoy, however, said she is yet to know what the conclusions will contain -- whether it will be arms embargo or targeted sanctions on Myanmar government and army.

Ambassador Teerink who arrived here four months back, also said probably there will be more individual targeted sanctions on some of the generals.

On Wednesday, Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) on the Rohingya crisis laid emphasis on imposing arms embargo and targeted sanctions on Myanmar and its senior officials respectively to create a safe environment for Rohingyas to return to their homeland from Bangladesh.

"I think it's time to impose an arms embargo on the Myanmar army, including targeted sanctions against the generals who are behind these atrocities," APHR Chairperson and Malaysian MP Charles Santiago said seeking a role from India, China and Russia who sell arms to Myanmar. Santiago also sought steps to deploy peacekeeping force to oversee the movement of Rohingyas.

He said without the presence of peacekeeping force repatriation will be difficult, in other words, he said, it will be almost impossible. "The repatriation should be safe and voluntary one."

Giving her second observation on the Rohingya situation, Ambassador Teerink said they can put pressure on the Myanmar government but the question is how they can convince people in Rakhine to welcome Rohingyas.

"What we understand the Rakhine people are not very happy to have them (Rohingyas) back. So, you can try and integrate but there is a negative public sentiment. It's very worrying," she explained.

The EU Ambassador said they could imagine that many Rohingyas are afraid of going back to Myanmar.

The idea is on the Myanmar side is to build a township to welcome returnees, she said recalling the situation of IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camp which has no freedom of movement.

On January 16, Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a document on 'Physical Arrangement' which will facilitate the return of Rohingyas to their homeland from Bangladesh. The 'Physical Arrangement' stipulates that the repatriation will be completed preferably within two years from the start of repatriation.

Asked about the way-out if repatriation process fails and subsequent third-country settlement, the EU Ambassador said, "A third-country settlement is very difficult. We've a migration crisis at our doorsteps as well."

Teerink said they are also looking at the OIC but they have not seen much force coming from the OIC that they would be eager to take Rohingyas. "For Europe, it (3rd country settlement) is difficult."

The Ambassador, however, said Rohingya crisis is not Bangladesh's problem but Bangladesh is a victim of this crisis.