U.N. SEC-GEN VISITS ROHINGYA CAMP
Antonio Guterres describes situation in Kutupalong as ‘a human rights nightmare’
UNITED Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres said he heard “unimaginable” accounts of atrocities during a visit yesterday to vast camps in Bangladesh that are home to a million Rohingya refugees who fled violence in Myanmar.
Guterres described the situation for the persecuted Muslim minority as “a humanitarian and human rights nightmare”.
“In Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, I’ve just heard unimaginable accounts of killing and rape from Rohingya refugees who recently fled Myan- mar. They want justice and a safe return home.
“The Rohingya are one of the most discriminated against and vulnerable communities on Earth,” he tweeted before his visit to the camps in southern Bangladesh.
Accompanied by the head of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim, he called it a “mission of solidarity with Rohingya refugees and the communities supporting them. The compassion and generosity of the Bangladeshi people shows the best of humanity and saved many thousands of lives.”
Myanmar has denied allegations by the United States, UN and others of ethnic cleansing. Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed in November to begin repatriating the Rohingya, but the process has stalled, with both sides accusing the other of frustrating the effort.
Fewer than 200 have been resettled, and the vast majority refuse to contemplate returning until their rights, citizenship and safety are assured.
About 100 Rohingya staged a protest just before Guterres’ visit, unhappy about a preliminary UN deal with Myanmar to assess conditions on the ground for their possible return home.
UN had said, however, that conditions in Rakhine were not conducive for the refugees’ safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation.