EU: Mogherini must commit support in Bangladesh, push for an end to abuse in Myanmar

As Federica Mogherini visits the epicentre of the Rohingya refugee emergency, she must commit the EU to provide Bangladesh with whatever support it can to continue to host the refugees in humane, sustainable and dignified conditions

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

QUOTE

17 November 2017

EU: Mogherini must commit support in Bangladesh, push for an end to abuse in Myanmar

Ahead of a visit by the EU’s Foreign Policy chief to a refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, Charmain Mohamed Director of Refugee and Migrant Rights at Amnesty International, said:

“As Federica Mogherini visits the epicentre of the Rohingya refugee emergency, she must commit the EU to provide Bangladesh with whatever support it can to continue to host the refugees in humane, sustainable and dignified conditions.”

“Bangladesh has been generously providing sanctuary to more than 600,000 Rohingya fleeing Myanmar for almost three months now. These refugees have been subject to a horrific campaign of ethnic cleansing at the hands of the military in Rakhine State, and are in dire need of international protection. The EU has much to learn from the way that Bangladesh has kept open the door for refugees arriving on their doorstep.”

“As I saw in Cox’s Bazar, aid agencies in Bangladesh are already struggling to provide basic services, with hundreds more refugees arriving daily. Emergency food, shelter, health and water and sanitation supplies and facilities are still urgently needed, but the EU must also start looking at how to support Bangladesh for the longer term.”

“The EU must also take effective action to push Myanmar’s authorities to end the appalling human rights violations and ethnic cleansing which is causing Rohingya to flee. Condemnation is not enough and has not changed the situation on the ground. Next week’s Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Myanmar will be a key opportunity for the EU to make clear that crimes against humanity cannot be committed without consequences. Only after the systemic discrimination against Rohingya and other minorities in Myanmar is addressed can any return be considered as truly voluntary.”

For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Amnesty International press office on [email protected] +32 2 548 27 73 or +32 483 680 812