US special envoy inspects Rohingya camps amid calls for repatriation
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A high-level United States delegation, led by Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs Sergio Gor and U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent Christensen, conducted a comprehensive tour of the Rohingya refugee camps in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, on Friday. The visit aimed to evaluate humanitarian operations funded by the United States, which remains one of the primary donors to the crisis response.
During the three-hour inspection, the delegation visited camps 4, 6, and 8-West, where they reviewed critical services including maternal and child health centers, food distribution hubs, LPG gas stations, and data registration facilities. The group engaged directly with refugees to understand their daily challenges and observed site conditions from an on-site observation tower.
The plight of the Rohingya remained the central focus of discussions between the delegation and officials from the Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC). Refugee representatives utilized the visit to emphasize their urgent desire for a safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation to Myanmar’s Rakhine State. Many refugees displayed placards throughout the camp to reiterate these demands for a sustainable solution to their displacement.
RRRC Commissioner Mohammad Mizanur Rahman briefed the U.S. representatives on the complex reality facing the border region. Officials reported that despite long-standing efforts to facilitate returns, no repatriations have been successfully executed over the past nine years. Conversely, ongoing conflict and instability in Rakhine State continue to drive migration, with an average of seven to 10 individuals still entering Bangladesh daily seeking medical care or refuge from violence.
The meeting also touched upon the increasing strain on local host communities. Commissioner Rahman noted that the prolonged nature of the crisis, coupled with isolated incidents of criminal activity involving refugees, has contributed to growing frustration among the local population.
The crisis, which reached a flashpoint in August 2017 with the arrival of approximately 800,000 people, has left Bangladesh hosting more than 1.4 million registered Rohingya across 33 camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf. Statistics shared during the visit highlighted that approximately 152,000 refugees have arrived in the country within the last 18 months alone, underscoring the persistent challenges in managing the world’s largest refugee settlement.
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