The United Nations refugee agency reiterated its request for unhindered access to Rakhine state in Myanmar yesterday, as part of a long term strategy for the safe repatriation of the Rohingya refugees who have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh. UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards said the necessary safeguards for potential returnees are absent even as more of the ethnic minority continue to arrive in Bangladesh from Myanmar. These include calls for peace and security for all communities in Rakhine State, inter-communal dialogue, freedom of movement, access to livelihoods, and finding solutions for the legal and citizenship status of the Muslim communities. The UNHCR spokesperson said the UN rights agency remains prepared to work with both the Myanmar and Bangladesh governments towards finding a long-term solution to this crisis. Edwards said this would be in the interest of the refugees themselves, both governments, the host community in Bangladesh, and all communities in Rakhine State.

Source: Dhaka Tribune January 23, 2018 11:37 UTC