Dhaka Tribune
Swiss President Alain Berset visited a Rohingya camp in Cox’s Bazar to gain a first-hand insight into the plight of the ethnic minority who fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar
Swiss President Alain Berset visited a Rohingya camp in Cox’s Bazar to gain a first-hand insight into the plight of the ethnic minority who fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar
Switzerland has welcomed the progress made between the
governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar in working towards a lasting solution to
the Rohingya crisis.
In a statement issued by the Swiss Embassy in Bangladesh
on Tuesday, Switzerland has underlined the need for any return of Rohingyas to
Myanmar to be voluntary, safe and dignified.
The press release follows the Swiss Confederation
President Alain Berset visiting a Rohingya camp in Cox’s Bazar to gain a
first-hand insight into the plight of the ethnic minority who fled to
Bangladesh from Myanmar’s Rahine state to save their lives.
He reached the Kutupalong camp around 12:30pm on Tuesday.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Cultural Affairs
Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, among others, are accompanying Berset.
During the visit, President Berset told local media that
a refugee crisis of this magnitude has put Bangladesh and the international
community under enormous pressure to provide urgent services to more than
650,000 people. To that effect, Switzerland has been closely working with
Bangladesh, UN agencies, and other development partners.
President Berset extended his appreciation to the
government of Bangladesh for the enormous efforts being undertaken to welcome
and shelter the ethnic Rohingya minority. He also expressed concern about the
outlook for the younger generation and the situation of the women and children
who need increased assistance.
He also added that Switzerland calls for the full
implementation of the report of the Advisory Commission chaired by Kofi Annan.
Nearly 700,000 members of the Rohingya minority escaped
to Bangladesh since late last August after Myanmar launched a brutal offensive
targeting the mainly Muslim ethnic community.
Myanmar does not recognize the Rohingyas and force many
of them to live in squalid camps in apartheid-like condition.
Dhaka and Naypyidaw have signed an agreement to send the
Rohingyas to their homeland. The repatriation was scheduled to begin last month
but got delayed.