Nordic countries laud Bangladesh for handling of Myanmar’s Rohingya influx

The ambassadors of the three Nordic countries in Dhaka have hailed the way Bangladesh has handled the influx of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.

Ambassador of Sweden Johan Frisell, Ambassador of Denmark Mikael Winther and Ambassador of Norway Sidsel Bleken visited Cox's Bazar on Jan 15-17 when they visited the Rohingya camps.

The purpose of the visit was to gain a better understanding of the humanitarian situation for official and undocumented Rohingya refugees, and to meet with UN agencies, NGOs and local authorities, according to a joint statement issued by the embassies on Tuesday.

The recent influx of Rohingyas from northern Rakhine State was a “special focus” of the visit.

The Swedish ambassador said the visit “shed light of the complex challenges of the refugee situation in the Cox's Bazar area”.

“I appreciate the efforts that the government of Bangladesh is undertaking to address the situation,” Frisell was quoted as saying in the statement.

"The humanitarian situation is serious for the newly arrived refugees. With the impressing efforts by different agencies and organisation, we hope that the needs will be met. It is clear that no long term solution can be found unless violence in Rakhine state comes to an end."

Sweden is contributing through support to the UNHCR and the IOM. It recently entered into a cooperation with the NGO "Action contre la Faim" in support of their nutrition programme.

The three-day visit included tours to Leda makeshift camp and Nayaparha Registered Camp as well as the camps in Kutupalong.

In the camps, the Nordic delegation met camp management and refugee representatives.

Meetings were also held with the deputy commissioner of Cox's Bazar District, the RRRC office and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

The Nordic countries are large donors to the international humanitarian system, including UN agencies, CERF and international NGOs. Together, they are the second largest donor to the UNHCR, according to the statement.

“I'm impressed how the Government of Bangladesh and humanitarian organisations have handled the current influx of more than 65.000 Rohingyas escaping atrocities and violence in Myanmar,” Norwegian Ambassador Bleken was quoted as saying in the statement.

“These refugees are settled in temporary camps, with family or relatives. My impression after our visit to Cox's Bazar is that the Rohingyas have a desire to return to the Rakhine state, rebuild their houses and get back to work as soon as possible,” he said.

Danish Ambassador Winther recognised “the big burden that is put on Bangladesh with the large number of Rohingya refugees”.

“It affects the local population and it affects Bangladesh' security,” he said.

“From a humanitarian point of view, it's important that all vulnerable Rohingyas have access to basic social services - irrespective of their legal status," he noted.