Cate Blanchett warns of upcoming monsoon

UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Cate Blanchett yesterday warned of a “race against time” to protect Rohingya refugees from the worst impacts of the upcoming monsoon season in Bangladesh.

Heavy rains, potential cyclones and adverse weather conditions are threatening to put more than one hundred thousand Rohingya refugees living in congested settlements in Cox's Bazar district at serious risk in the coming months.

Blanchett, on return from a visit to Bangladesh this week, is calling for urgent action to support UNHCR -- the UN Refugee Agency -- and its partners, working with the Bangladesh government, to avoid an “emergency within an emergency”, said a press release of UNHCR yesterday.

Since August 2017, over 671,000 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar have sought safety in Bangladesh.

“The Rohingya refugees have already experienced targeted violence, human rights abuses and horrific journeys. They have shown unimaginable resilience and courage,” Blanchett said, speaking at the end of her visit to Kutupalong, Nayapara and Chakmarkul settlements near Cox's Bazar this week.

“But now, as the monsoon season approaches, the Government of Bangladesh, supported by UNHCR and its partners, are in a race against time to ensure the refugees are as safe as they can be to deal with potential floods and landslides.”

"… Staffs are on the ground distributing shelter and pre-monsoon kits to the vulnerable families, reinforcing roads, bridges, steps and other infrastructure at risk of being washed away, and relocating families to safer places where land is available. But more is urgently needed to ensure refugees stay safe,” Blanchett continued.

Blanchett urged the international community to show solidarity and share the responsibility of this crisis with Bangladesh government its people.