Japan ambassador Ito Naoki has visited Bhasan Char to observe UN responses for the Rohingya population.
Yuho Hayakawa, Chief Representative of JICA Bangladesh, also attended the 2-day mission from March 30 to 31, the embassy said on Wednesday.
Over 25,000 Rohingya refugees are living in Bhasan Char. In January 2022, Japan funded as the first donor $2million to UNHCR and WFP to support their operations on Bhasan Char.
This mission was aimed to overview the ongoing activities under Japan’s funding, as well as explore possible bilateral assistance by JICA in the future.
The mission moved from Chattogram port to Bhasan Char in LCU of Bangladesh Navy, along with over 2,000 Rohingya who relocated to the island on the same day of Japan’s visit.
Delegations visited the hospitals, food distribution point, livelihood project, embankment, education center and the community centers for women and children.
They had discussions with A-RRRC, Shamsuddoga Nayan and Project Director of Ashrayam-3 project, Rashed Sattan.
Ambassador ITO expressed his appreciation to the dedicated work of UN agencies, NGOs, Navy and the government of Bangladesh for delivering services to the refugees despite financial and resource constraints.
“It was truly eye opening to see the humanitarian responses and efforts of UNHCR, WFP and NGOs such as BRAC, Friendship, GK, Islamic Relief, BDRCS, Qatar Charity, and CODEC,” the ambassador was quoted as saying in a statement.
“The Government of Bangladesh established solid facilities and infrastructure. While moving with refugees from Chattogram to Bhasan Char, and talking with Rohingya people on the island, I recognized that they relocated from Cox’s Bazar to Bhasan Char in pursuit of better life, more livelihood opportunities and better security.
“Nevertheless, despite the initial USD 2 million funding of Japan and the following support by the other donors, there seemed to be considerable gaps in services and additional funding requirements for further humanitarian responses. I hope the operations on the island will expand to provide more support to the refugee population, and Japan will continue supporting the UNs and NGOs,” said the ambassador.
Japan will further cooperate with the relevant agencies for better living conditions of Rohingya and host communities both in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char, while making efforts for early repatriation to Myanmar.
Finding lasting solutions to this crisis will be conducive to our pursuit of “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”.
