Conditions in Myanmar's Rakhine not in place to enable safe returns – UN refugee agency
24 November 2017 – Amid reports of an agreement between the governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar on return of Rohingya
refugees to Myanmar, the United Nations refugee agency has underscored that the returns must be voluntary, and take
place in safe and dignified conditions.
“At present, conditions in Myanmar's Rakhine state are not in place to enable safe and sustainable returns. Refugees are
still fleeing, and many have suffered violence, rape, and deep psychological harm,” Adrian Edwards, a spokesperson for
the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), told journalists at a regular media briefing in Geneva
Friday.
“It is critical that returns do not take place precipitously or prematurely, without the informed consent of refugees or
the basic elements of lasting solutions in place,” he stressed.
Over the past three months, widespread inter-communal violence in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state resulted in some
622,000 people fleeing into neighbouring Bangladesh. Prior to this latest crisis, Bangladesh was already hosting well
over 200,000 Rohingya refugees as a result of earlier displacements.
According to the UN refugee agency, some of those who fled witnessed the deaths of family and friends, and most have
little or nothing to go back to with their homes and villages destroyed.
“Deep divisions between communities remain unaddressed,” added Mr. Edwards, underscoring that progress towards
addressing the root causes of flight, including lack of citizenship for members of the Rohingya community, as
recommended by the Rakhine Advisory Commission, will also be crucial.
Furthermore, humanitarian access in northern Rakhine state remains negligible.
At the briefing, the UNHCR spokesperson also noted that the UN agency looks forward to seeing details of the agreement
between the two countries, and that it stands ready to help both governments work towards a solution for the Rohingya
refugees in Bangladesh that meets international refugee and human rights standards.
“Refugees have the right to return [and] a framework that enables them to exercise this right in line with international
standards, will be welcome,” he said.