United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi met Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in New York on Monday to discuss the longstanding Rohingya crisis ahead of an international conference at the UN headquarters.
The meeting focused on the worsening humanitarian situation in Rakhine of Myanmar, the sharp decline in international aid, and the need to accelerate global diplomatic efforts to secure the safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation of the Rohingya community from Bangladesh.
Yunus highlighted that around 150,000 Rohingyas crossed into Bangladesh in the last one and a half years, deepening the humanitarian strain and heightening regional concerns.
He expressed confidence that Tuesday’s historic conference — the first exclusively dedicated to the Rohingya crisis — would outline a clear and actionable plan for long-term solutions.
The chief adviser further stressed that the event should serve as a turning point in rallying international support, especially in mobilising urgent financial assistance for refugees in Bangladesh.
Grandi welcomed last month’s regional forum in Cox’s Bazar, where Rohingya representatives directly engaged in discussions for the first time during a four-day session.
He urged Bangladesh to continue broadening its diplomatic engagement with influential global powers to build momentum toward a sustainable resolution.
In another development, Julie Bishop, the UN special envoy for Myanmar, held a meeting with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus at a hotel in New York on the same day to discuss the Rohingya issue.
During the meeting, Yunus reiterated that the safe return of Rohingya people to Myanmar remains the sole sustainable resolution to the long-running humanitarian crisis.
“There is no alternative but for the Rohingya to return to their homeland. That is the only durable solution,” he added.
Expressing hope for concrete outcomes, Yunus said, “We must look to Tuesday’s conference for practical and meaningful commitments. This is not an issue the world can afford to ignore.”
Bishop underscored the importance of expanding funding streams to support Rohingya refugees and urged greater contributions from OIC member states.
