Shawdesh desk:

Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen has said that long-term solution to the Rohingya crisis lies in repatriation of the displaced people to Myanmar.

‘China assumes its responsibility as a major country and provides assistance to help the displaced people improve living conditions,’ he said, adding that China looks forward to undertaking more initiatives with UNHCR in the future.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, on Wednesday welcomed China’s $1.5 million contribution to improve hygiene services for Rohingyas in Bangladesh.

Over 60,000 Rohingya women and girls, between the age of 12 and 50, will get benefit from the support through the China International Development Cooperation Agency until 2025.

‘This generous support from China comes at a crucial time, as we are into the seventh year of the current Rohingya crisis,’ Sumbul Rizvi, UNHCR representative in Bangladesh, said on Wednesday.

Rohingya women and girls have been receiving two hygiene kits each year.

The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society will partner with UNHCR to ensure that over 250,000 kits under China’s grant support reach Rohingya women.

UNHCR and the Chinese government will collaborate to provide these kits.

Chinese funding will ensure the provision of some items, including bathing and laundry soaps, as well as buckets, said the UN agency.

Over 200 women in Cox’s Bazar, from the refugee and Bangladeshi host communities, will work to produce the remaining items for the hygiene kits. It allows them to put their skills to use for their community while also gaining an opportunity for limited self-reliance and livelihoods to support themselves.

‘Rohingya women have highlighted the value of such kits, which they say are essential, and welcome the quality of the items produced by women within their own community,’ said UNHCR Respresentative Rizvi.

UNHCR continues to work closely with women and the authorities in Bangladesh to improve their living conditions.

The offer of humanitarian assistance by countries, including China, is greatly needed to support the government of Bangladesh in its humanitarian effort to respond to the Rohingya situation.

In 2023, humanitarian agencies have appealed for more than $876 million to support almost 1.5 million people, including 960,000 Rohingyas and 495,000 Bangladeshis in neighbouring communities.

By early December 2023, the Joint Response Plan was approximately 50 per cent funded.