Dhaka: The United Nations Chief Antonio Guterres said on Saturday that the organization is exploring the possibility of a Bangladesh humanitarian aid channel to Myanmar.
Guterres is on a four -day visit to Bangladesh who saw him meet Friday with Rohingya refugees, threatened by the imminent humanitarian aid cuts. Around one million members of the persecuted minority and mostly Muslim live in a help camps in scanning in Bangladesh, most of which arrived after fleeing from the 2017 military repression in neighboring Myanmar.
“We need to intensify humanitarian aid within Myanmar to create a condition for that return (of the Rohingyas) to succeed,” Guterres said during a press conference. Guterres suggested that, in the correct circumstances, having a “humanitarian channel” of Bangladesh would facilitate the return of the Rohingya community, but said he would require “authorization and cooperation.”
When asked if the dialogue with the Arakan Army (AA), a rebel group of ethnic minorities in Myanmar, was essential for the repatriation of Rohingyas, Guterres said: “Arakan’s army is a reality in which we live.” He acknowledged that in the past relations with the AA have been difficult, but said: “The necessary dialogue must take place.”
Guterres added that committing to the AA was important since the sanctions against the group would require the approval of the UN Security Council, which could be difficult to obtain. “It is essential to increase the pressure of all neighbors to ensure that the end -to -final fighting and finally established democracy,” said Guterres.
The comments of the UN Chief occurred after the Fortify Rights Human Rights Group issued a statement that urged Bangladesh’s government to facilitate humanitarian aid and cross -border trade to reach civilians affected by the war in the state of Rakhine of Myanmar.
Posted in Dawn, March 16, 2025
