Rohingya crisis: US urges global partners to increase contributions

Highlights:

• US envoy urges increased global aid for Rohingya refugees
• Gor visits world's largest Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar
• US delegation observes WFP humanitarian operations in refugee camp
• US eases Bangladesh travel advisory from Level 3 to Level 2
• Dhaka hails advisory change as confidence in improved security

US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor on Friday (31 July) urged international partners to step up their support for the Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar, which is home to more than one million Rohingyas sheltered by Bangladesh.

"The United States has supported this camp and urges our partners around the world to increase their contributions," said Gor while visiting the Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen, among others, was present.

"Today I visited Rohingya refugee communities in Cox's Bazar with Ambassador Christensen. This is the largest refugee camp in the world, hosting over one million refugees," said the US Special Envoy.

He visited a Rohingya camp in Ukhiya of Cox's Bazar, leading a 14-member high-level delegation, reports UNB Cox's Bazar Correspondent.

According to the Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC), the delegation arrived at Cox's Bazar Airport around 12pm and proceeded directly to the Rohingya camp in Ukhiya.

The delegation visited Camp-4, where they observed activities of the World Food Programme (WFP), including its humanitarian assistance operations for the displaced Rohingyas.

The US Special Envoy met Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Thursday evening and is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today (1 August).

"It was great to meet Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman during my first visit to Bangladesh and discuss working together to strengthen the US-Bangladesh relationship. Lots of positive developments," Gor said on Thursday night.

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur said bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the United States are moving in a very positive direction, noting that they will build on the achievements they have made so far.

"Our engagement with the US is not limited to one meeting. We remain engaged on all aspects and at all levels, and the relationship is moving forward," he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday night after his meeting with Gor at the State Guest House Padma.

The United States has updated its travel advisory for Bangladesh, and the improvement in the advisory "reflects growing US confidence" in Bangladesh's overall security environment and stability, Dhaka said on Thursday night.

The overall travel advisory has been lowered from Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) to Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution), reflecting that Bangladesh is safer for travel, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said.

The positive development follows the "productive" bilateral meeting held in Dhaka between Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman and US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor.

Immediately after the meeting, Gor conveyed the development to the Foreign Minister in a text message, the Ministry said.

"This evening, I informed Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman that the State Department has taken into consideration the stable conditions on the ground and has deemed that Bangladesh is safer for travel. Accordingly, the United States' overall travel advisory has been downgraded from Level 3 to Level 2. A few areas have additional restrictions and should be avoided. Great news!" Gor said in a separate message.

Over the past six months, under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the present government has achieved visible progress in strengthening law and order across the country, Dhaka said.

The decision also underscores the positive trajectory of the longstanding partnership between Bangladesh and the United States.

The government of Bangladesh views the improvement as recognition of its sustained efforts to ensure security, stability, and an enabling environment for international travel, trade, investment, and people-to-people connectivity.