UNHCR Country Representative Ivo Friesen met Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam at her office on Wednesday.
Welcoming the envoy, the state minister praised UNHCR’s continued support for the forcibly displaced Rohingya, particularly its leadership under the Rohingya Response Plan.
She reiterated that repatriation to Myanmar remains the only effective solution to the crisis. Bangladesh, she said, will continue working with UNHCR and other partners to explore practical ways forward while maintaining humanitarian assistance in Bhasan Char and Cox’s Bazar.
Amid an ongoing funding gap, the state minister urged UNHCR to sustain its efforts under the Joint Response Plan (JRP) to meet urgent humanitarian needs, including food, medicine, water, sanitation and education.
The two sides agreed to continue joint efforts to draw the attention of the international community to the issue.
Friesen commended Bangladesh for hosting a large number of Rohingya over the years and reaffirmed UNHCR’s commitment to supporting the country in addressing the humanitarian crisis.
