US committed to resettling refugees: Anne Richard
US Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration Anne C Richard on Wednesday said her country is committed to resettling refugees who cannot return home saying it wants to expand partnership with Bangladesh.
“We look forward to expanding our partnership with Bangladesh in the years to come,” she said adding the current situation regarding refugee issue benefits no one.
Anne Richard, who came to Bangladesh for the first time, said there was a focus on trying to ensure that they (Myanmar) recognise that many of the Rohiyngas, in fact, deserve the papers to show they are ‘citizens of Myanmar’.
The US official also said there are lots coming in the months to come to try to pin down the actual status of the people of Rakhine state.
She was delivering a lecture on ‘US Policy on Refugee, Migration and Population Dynamics’ arranged by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) at its conference room.
Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque also spoke at the programme held with Chairman of the BIISS Board of Governors Ambassador Munshi Faiz Ahmad in the chair.
Responding to a question, Anne Richard said she does not think the US voice is weak on Burma issue and mentioned that lots have been done, and there is a realisation that the situation in Rakhaine cannot just be ignored.
The US official laid emphasis on ensuring freedom of movement, removing lack of educational and livelihood opportunities there.
Describing each crisis ‘unique’, the US Assistant Secretary said she just has come from Burma, where hopes for the future are threatened by ethnic and religious rivalries and violence.
Since 2011, violence in Kachin and northern Shan States has internally displaced an estimated 100,000 people. And since 2012, fighting in Rakhine State between ethnic Rakhine and Rohingya communities has displaced 140,000.
Anne visited both of these areas and participated in a high-level Human Rights Dialogue.
“The United States has been urging the Burmese government to take steps to end hostilities, build mutual confidence, and establish a political dialogue,” she said adding that at the highest levels, they have repeatedly pressed the government of Burma to take decisive action to address the root causes of conflict.
The US assistant Secretary said Bangladesh has made impressive gains in the fight against poverty and dramatic improvements in nutrition, maternal and child health, education, and empowering women and girls.
“Bangladesh is the only country that participates in all three of President Obama’s major development initiatives - on health, food security, and climate change,” she added.
Anne said the US and she personally want to thank Bangladesh for what this nation has done to help vulnerable people. “For decades, you’ve hosted hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas… and you’ve launched the national Strategy for Undocumented Myanmar Nationals, which can help provide critical humanitarian assistance and protection.”
Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque said the US has been extremely vocal to effectively address the Rohingya issues, give them all kinds of freedom also take them back to their home.
He said the US President Barack Obama was very categorical in saying, ‘Give their citizenship back’.
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