The United Kingdom would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Bangladesh for its generous hospitality in hosting so many Rohingya refugees since 2017.
We also wish to express our deep appreciation to all the humanitarian partners, their staff and the volunteers on the ground, who have provided vital assistance in this ongoing crisis.
The UK remains steadfast in our commitment to supporting the Rohingya people while they remain in Bangladesh. Since 2017, we have provided £405 million for the Rohingya and host communities in Bangladesh. We have also contributed £105 million to the response in Rakhine, with £52 million of this supporting Rohingya and other Muslim minorities.
Through our role as penholder at the Security Council, the UK convened four meetings on Myanmar last year, and one earlier this year, to engage with key stakeholders and ensure continued attention on the crisis.
In November, our Minister for the Asia Pacific visited Bangladesh, where she reiterated the UK’s unwavering support for Bangladesh and the Rohingya people.
So we are also pleased to welcome this year’s Joint Response Plan, aimed at assisting both the Rohingya refugees and the vulnerable host community members living in Bangladesh. We continue to see it as important that we target our support to ensure protection of the most vulnerable.
We recognise the immense challenges that Bangladesh faces in hosting such a large refugee population, including the pressures on security and infrastructure in the camps. The UK is committed to:
- Continuing our partnership with Bangladesh and our international partners to find sustainable solutions,
- Working with Bangladesh to offer the Rohingya refugees greater self-reliance,
- Improving the safety and security of the camps,
- Coordinating with international partners to achieve the maximum impact with the resources available.
As this crisis continues to evolve, we will continue to do everything we can to support those in need, while actively working towards a safe, dignified, and sustainable future for the Rohingya people.
Thank you.
