US assures continued support for Rohingya refugees

Eric P Schwartz

FE Report

The United States (US) Assistant Secretary for Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) Mr Eric P Schwartz Thursday said his country will continue providing humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees inBangladesh.

"The US will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Bangladeshas the poor and beleaguered Rohingya people have done nothing wrong and did not get their basic rights except persecution and torture by the Myanmar authorities," he told the media at a press briefing at the American Centre at Baridhara in the capital.

The US diplomat who had visited Kutupalong Rohingya refugees camp and talked with all sections of people said, "I appreciate the efforts taken by theBangladesh government for providing humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya refugees".

He suggested that the Rohingya refugees should not be forced to return to their own country unless the situation improves for their safe return.

"We are here (Bangladesh) to provide financial and humanitarian support toBangladesh government so that the refugees can have their basic rights," he said.

With regard to Rohingya refugees' registration, Mr Eric P Schwartz said his country will extend support to Bangladesh in this regard.

"We are ready to provide financial and technical assistance to Bangladeshgovernment for Rohingya refugees' registration," he mentioned.

"The United States (US) has supported the refugee programme inBangladesh since 1991. In 2010, the United States provided over US $ 23 million to regional appeals of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of Red Cross, as well as $ 1.28 million to NGO's assisting Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. This is of course in addition to the nearly $ 200 million in development aid provided by the United states to the people of Bangladesh," he said.

"The United States is eager to continue and to augment supports to the humanitarian efforts of the Bangladesh government. We look forward to consulting closely with Bangladeshi officials in the weeks and months to come," he mentioned.

The influx of Rohingyas, a Muslim minority in Myanmar's Arakan state, began in 1991 after they were allegedly driven out by the then ruling military junta of the country.

It is estimated that there some 300,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladeshand of them 24,000 live in two camps of Cox's Bazar alone.