JEDDAH: In a concerted effort to address the pressing humanitarian crisis affecting Rohingya refugees, a collaborative delegation from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) General Secretariat and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) embarks on a joint mission to Bangladesh. This crucial initiative, in alignment with the action plan established between the two entities, aims to further examine the situation of Rohingya refugees and rally international humanitarian assistance.
Scheduled from August 6 to August 11, 2023, the joint delegation comprises representatives from the OIC Humanitarian Department led by Ambassador Tariq Ali Bakhit, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, and Ambassador Ibrahim Khairat, the OIC’s special envoy to Myanmar. Accompanying them is a team from the Islamic Solidarity Fund. On the UNHCR side, the delegation is spearheaded by Mr. Khalid Khalifa, Advisor to the High Commissioner, who also serves as the UNHCR Representative to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
OIC Concerns Over Rohingya Crisis in Bangladesh
Central to the mission is a series of bilateral discussions between the joint delegation and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangladesh. The primary objectives encompass the oversight and implementation of resolutions passed by the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation concerning the Rohingya crisis. Furthermore, the delegation seeks to mobilize additional financial resources to bolster support for the Rohingya population in Bangladesh, a nation grappling with the enormous responsibility of hosting them.
Upon arrival in the capital city of Dhaka, the delegation convened a pivotal meeting with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Subsequently, the delegation conducted an extensive gathering with various United Nations agencies that are actively engaged in humanitarian efforts within Bangladesh.
