DHAKA: UNHCR, together with Bangladeshi officials, has visited refugee families over the past few days in their shelters to establish whether they wish to return to Myanmar. So far, none of those interviewed has indicated a willingness to repatriate at this time.
According to an UNHCR release issued on Thursday (August 22), it said it would continue assisting the Government of Bangladesh in this process to ensure that all those cleared for return are interviewed.
UNHCR appreciates the consistent commitment by Government of Bangladesh to ensure that the refugees’ decisions will be respected.
Through their bilateral Joint Working Group on repatriation, the Government of Myanmar conveyed to the Government of Bangladesh the names of 3,450 Rohingya refugees who have been cleared for return to Rakhine State of Myanmar.
UNHCR has been assisting the Government of Bangladesh in surveying these refugees on whether they wish to return to Myanmar and to confirm the voluntariness of any individual decision to do so.
UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, sees Myanmar’s engagement in this process as a positive step in the affirmation of the right to return of Rohingya refugees.
UNHCR has agreed with the governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar that any repatriation of refugees must be voluntary, safe and dignified. Respect for these principles will also have the practical effect of helping to ensure that return is sustainable.
This has been confirmed in discussions Bangladesh authorities and UNHCR have had with Rohingya refugees this week. Many stated that they do hope to go home to Myanmar as soon as conditions allow and that assurances regarding their citizenship status, freedom of movement, and security in Myanmar could be provided.
BDST: 2116 HRS, AUG 22, 2019
AH/SMS