United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi, on Monday, categorically said that the solution of Rohingya crisis lies with Myanmar, and called for stopping violence.
A press conference in a city hotel after visiting Kutupalong refugee camp and other camps in Cox's Bazar district Grandi told, "Return of Rohingya people to their country must be in a dignified and safe manner."
While narrating his experiences at the refugee camps, Grandi said, "The situation of Rohingya refugees is extremely difficult. Urgent attention needs to be drawn towards this major humanitarian crisis."
Referring to the UN's preliminary appeal for 77 million US dollar, he said, "I think this fund is not enough to address this crisis. The figure will be much higher after real assessment of their needs."
The UNHCR chief called for support to be ramped up for more than 400,000 Rohingya refugees who have fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar in the last month, and the communities hosting them, and commended the government and people of Bangladesh for their hospitality.
"Their situation remains desperate, and we risk a dramatic deterioration if aid is not rapidly stepped up. The people I met were deeply traumatised, and despite having found refuge in Bangladesh, they are still exposed to enormous hardship," he said on the final day of his visit to Bangladesh.
"The spontaneous outpouring of support from the local community, and people, companies and association across the country has been phenomenal," he said, noting that the government had mobilised efforts at all levels and that UNHCR and other partners are also scaling up.
"Despite every effort by those on the ground, the massive influx of people seeking safety rapidly outpaced capacities to respond and the situation is still not stabilised. More is needed and fast, we are to avoid further deterioration," Grandi said.
UNHCR has now airlifted four planes loaded with relief items into the country, and is distributing emergency shelter kits, kitchen sets and solar lamps, he said adding, "Our experts are working closely with the government to set up an organized site with water, sanitation and other facilities and to register the new arrivals."
Other international agencies and NGOs are also on the ground playing an important role, the UNHRC chief added. "I thank Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and I thank Bangladesh for keeping its borders open to receive these refugees. In today's world that is something that cannot be taken for granted and should be appreciated," he added.
Grandi said, "I talked to the people (Rohingya refugees) who had experienced the most unimaginable horrors. They witnessed their villages burned down, families shot or hacked to death, women and girls brutalised."
The report issued in August by the Rakhine Advisory Commission, led by former UN General Secretary Kofi Annan, provides an important roadmap for addressing the root causes that have contributed to the current crisis, he added.
In reply to a question, the UNHCR chief said, "Right now, we are focusing on humanitarian support to avoid catastrophic situation of Rohingya people. I call on international community and donor agencies to extend their humanitarian support to meet immediate needs of Rohingya people."
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