US supports ‘go-and-see’ visit by Rohingyas to their villages in Myanmar before repatriation

The US administration supports the recommendation of the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, to enable Rohingya refugees visit to their villages of origin before final repatriation to Myanmar.

The US embassy in Dhaka said Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) Richard Albright during his visit emphasised the value of “go-and-see” visits, as recommended by UNHCR.

This is to enable Rohingya refugees to visit their villages of origin and the transit facilities in Myanmar so that they and their families can make informed choices about voluntary returns, Albright told the government officials in Bangladesh during Nov 10 to Nov 15 visit.

He also welcomed the Bangladesh government’s “continued commitment to informed, voluntary, safe, and dignified returns and to giving UNHCR the lead in the repatriation process.”

“We agree with UNHCR’s assessment that conditions in Myanmar are not yet conducive for returns.  Full access to Myanmar is needed to understand the conditions in the areas of return and to allow refugees and internally displaced persons to make an informed choice about returning,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

The US is following developments closely regarding joint plans of Bangladesh and Myanmar to repatriate approximately 2,000 Rohingya beginning Nov 15, the embassy said.

The repatriation process did not proceed as none of the Rohingyas wanted to go back amid concerns from the UN agencies.

Albright visited Rohingya refugee camps and host communities in Cox’s Bazar from November 11 to 13 to assess conditions and speak directly with Bangladeshis and refugees, including some who had just recently arrived from Myanmar.

USAID Mission Director Derrick Brown accompanied him during the visit at the Kunapara Border crossing, Rohingya camps including the UNHCR Transit Center, as well as a number of facilities providing services such as medical care, food distribution, and nutrition services, implemented by US government partners, including WFP, UNICEF, the Red Cross Movement, and IOM.

This visit was part of PRM’s regular travel to monitor humanitarian assistance programs and meet with key government, United Nations, and non-governmental organisation stakeholders.

The US has provided more than $345 million to assist Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh since the start of the current crisis in August 2017.  In addition, the US has contributed 40 percent of the total contributions to-date to the 2018 Joint Response Plan.”

The US commends the government of Bangladesh’s generosity in keeping its borders open to Rohingya refugees and in hosting the more than 700,000 that have arrived since the outbreak of violence in Rakhine State in August 2017.

Washington also appreciates Bangladesh’s continued efforts to ensure humanitarian assistance reaches the affected population.