UN To Ensure Food Security for Rohingyas: Guterres

The United Nations is committed to doing everything necessary to ensure food security for the Rohingya refugees, said UN Secretary-General António Guterres during his visit to Bangladesh.

Speaking to journalists after visiting the Rohingya camps in Ukhiya, Cox's Bazar, on Friday (March 14), Guterres expressed concern over the reduction in food aid, warning that it puts the Rohingyas at serious risk. He assured that the UN will advocate more strongly to the international community for comprehensive support.

"The Rohingyas want to return to their homeland—it is their right. They have suffered immense persecution," he stated.

Earlier in Dhaka, Guterres met with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus for an hour-long discussion, where he voiced his concern about the declining international assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

"I have come here to express solidarity with the Rohingyas and stand by them," Guterres said. "I have never seen a community endure such extreme discrimination. The world has forgotten them, and reducing aid is a grave injustice."

He criticized Western nations for increasing defense spending while global humanitarian aid continued to decline. He also expressed deep gratitude to Bangladesh for providing shelter to the Rohingyas despite these challenges.

According to the Chief Adviser's press division, Guterres arrived at Cox's Bazar Airport at 12:48 pm on a chartered Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight. After completing official formalities, he travelled to the Rohingya refugee camps in Ukhiya, reaching there at approximately 2:10 pm.

During his visit, he toured a Rohingya learning centre, a cultural centre, and a jute-based production facility. Later, he participated in an Iftar gathering with nearly 100,000 Rohingya refugees.

Meanwhile, Chief Adviser Professor Yunus inaugurated a project at Cox's Bazar Airport and visited the Khurushkul Climate Refugee Center. He then joined Guterres in the Iftar with Rohingya refugees.

Following their visit and the Iftar event, both the UN Secretary-General and the Chief Adviser are scheduled to return to Dhaka together in the evening.