The UN refugee agency says it is against the repatriation of Rohingya refugees immediately citing unsafe and unsustainable conditions for their returns in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
“At present, conditions in Myanmar’s Rakhine State are not in place to enable safe and sustainable returns,” United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in a statement on Friday.
Refugees are still fleeing, and many have suffered violence, rape, and deep psychological harm. Some have witnessed the deaths of family members and friends,” it said.
The UN agency added that most refugees little or nothing to go back to their homes and villages ruined. Deep communal divisions remain unaddressed. And humanitarian access in the State is still negligible.
Bangladesh and Myanmar governments reached an agreement on the repatriation of over 0.6 million Rohingya refugees to Myanmar on Friday.
On reports about this, UNHCR called for implementing repatriation in line with international standards, ensuring their returns as voluntary, safe and dignified that pave the way for lasting solutions.
Some 622,000 people have fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar’s northern Rakhine State since 25 August amid a wave of violence underpinned by denial of citizenship and decades of deep discrimination.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said on Friday UNHCR will participate in the process of repatriating the forcibly displaced Rohingyas to their homeland, Myanmar.
