ROHINGYA CRISIS

US team arrives tomorrow

European Union (EU) commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management Christos Stylianides arrived in the capital yesterday on a three-day visit to Bangladesh to meet with Rohingyas and the aid projects in the affected areas funder by the EU. And, a United States delegation will fly to Dhaka from Myanmar for a four-day visit with regard to the ongoing crisis that caused a huge influx of Rohingyas to Bangladesh. More than 6 lakh Rohingyas have so far crossed into Bangladesh since August 25 to join about 4.5 lakh refugees already living in  the country for a long time.

While in Bangladesh, the EU commissioner will discuss the issue with the Bangladeshi leadership, sources said, adding that the powerful bloc of 28 countries is currently leading the condemnations of international community for the atrocities in Rakhine and efforts to hold accountable those responsible.
 In the pledging conference in Geneva on October 23, the EU pledged additional €30 million for the Rohingya crisis.
This is on top of over €21 million in overall EU assistance already allocated to Rohingya and host communities in both Bangladesh and Myanmar, bringing the total EU support for this year to over €51 million.
Meanwhile, according to a press release issued by the US Embassy in Dhaka yesterday, Simon Henshaw, acting assistant secretary of state for the bureau of population, refugees, and migration, is leading a delegation to Myanmar Burma and Bangladesh from October 29-November 4 to discuss ways to address the humanitarian and human rights concerns stemming from the Rakhine State crisis and improve the delivery of humanitarian assistance to displaced persons in Myanmar, Bangladesh and the region.  
The delegation will arrive in Dhaka tomorrow and will meet with various stakeholders to discuss the US and international responses to the ongoing crisis and to explore durable solutions.
The US team will comprise deputy assistant Secretary Scott Busby of the bureau of democracy, human rights, and labour, acting deputy assistant secretary Tom Vajda of the bureau of south and central Asian affairs and office director Patricia Mahoney of the bureau of east Asian and pacific affairs,
In Bangladesh, acting assistant secretary Henshaw and the delegation will meet with senior government officials, donors, and humanitarian agencies to discuss efforts to improve conditions for the significant influx of refugees into Bangladesh to effectively meet life-saving needs.
The delegation will also visit affected communities in Cox’s Bazar district in southeastern Bangladesh to hear the stories of the people who have fled, assess the impact of the emergency humanitarian response, identify gaps in assistance, and advise on ways to improve the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
In Myanmar acting assistant secretary Simon Henshaw and the delegation is meeting with the diplomatic community, senior government officials, and UN, international, and NGO partners to discuss the current state of the crisis, promote protection for persons affected by the violence and accountability for reported human rights abuses, urging unhindered humanitarian access to affected communities in the Rakhine State.
He is to press for the establishment of protection mechanisms to enable individuals to voluntarily return in safety and with dignity.

 

ROHINGYA CRISIS

US team arrives tomorrow

European Union (EU) commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management Christos Stylianides arrived in the capital yesterday on a three-day visit to Bangladesh to meet with Rohingyas and the aid projects in the affected areas funder by the EU. And, a United States delegation will fly to Dhaka from Myanmar for a four-day visit with regard to the ongoing crisis that caused a huge influx of Rohingyas to Bangladesh. More than 6 lakh Rohingyas have so far crossed into Bangladesh since August 25 to join about 4.5 lakh refugees already living in the country for a long time. While in Bangladesh, the EU commissioner will discuss the issue with the Bangladeshi leadership, sources said, adding that the powerful bloc of 28 countries is currently leading the condemnations of international community for the atrocities in Rakhine and efforts to hold accountable those responsible. In the pledging conference in Geneva on October 23, the EU pledged additional 30 million for the Rohingya crisis. This is on top of over 21 million in overall EU assistance already allocated to Rohingya and host communities in both Bangladesh and Myanmar, bringing the total EU support for this year to over 51 million. Meanwhile, according to a press release issued by the US Embassy in Dhaka yesterday, Simon Henshaw, acting assistant secretary of state for the bureau of population, refugees, and migration, is leading a delegation to Myanmar Burma and Bangladesh from October 29-November 4 to discuss ways to address the humanitarian and human rights concerns stemming from the Rakhine State crisis and improve the delivery of humanitarian assistance to displaced persons in Myanmar, Bangladesh and the region. The delegation will arrive in Dhaka tomorrow and will meet with various stakeholders to discuss the US and international responses to the ongoing crisis and to explore durable solutions. The US team will comprise deputy assistant Secretary Scott Busby of the bureau of democracy, human rights, and labour, acting deputy assistant secretary Tom Vajda of the bureau of south and central Asian affairs and office director Patricia Mahoney of the bureau of east Asian and pacific affairs, In Bangladesh, acting assistant secretary Henshaw and the delegation will meet with senior government officials, donors, and humanitarian agencies to discuss efforts to improve conditions for the significant influx of refugees into Bangladesh to effectively meet life-saving needs. The delegation will also visit affected communities in Coxs Bazar district in southeastern Bangladesh to hear the stories of the people who have fled, assess the impact of the emergency humanitarian response, identify gaps in assistance, and advise on ways to improve the delivery of humanitarian assistance. In Myanmar acting assistant secretary Simon Henshaw and the delegation is meeting with the diplomatic community, senior government officials, and UN, international, and NGO partners to discuss the current state of the crisis, promote protection for persons affected by the violence and accountability for reported human rights abuses, urging unhindered humanitarian access to affected communities in the Rakhine State. He is to press for the establishment of protection mechanisms to enable individuals to voluntarily return in safety and with dignity.