Implement Kofi Annan report: Swiss president
COX'S BAZAR, Feb 6: Swiss President Alain Berset on Tuesday
said Switzerland calls for the full implementation of the report
of the Advisory Commission chaired by Kofi Annan to protect
Rohingyas and ensure their safe return to Myanmar, reports
UNB. He said a refugee crisis of this scale had put Bangladesh
and the international community under enormous pressure to
provide shelter and the most urgent services to more than
688000 people. "Switzerland is working closely with
Bangladesh, UN agencies and other development partners in
order to respond to this crisis," the Swiss President told
reporters during his visit to Kutupalang camp. Foreign Minister
AH Mahmood Ali, Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor,
Swiss Ambassador in Dhaka Rene Holenstein accompanied
the Swiss President in Cox's Bazar. President Berset, now on a
four-day official tour, arrived in Cox's Bazar on Tuesday
morning to gain a first-hand insight into the ongoing
humanitarian crisis and listened to stories of sufferings from
Rohingyas. He visited the camp where he met with Rohingyas
who have fled Myanmar in recent months. The Swiss
President also visited the Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital which
received Swiss contributions. President Berset extended his
appreciation for the enormous efforts being undertaken by
Bangladesh government to welcome and host the
communities from Myanmar. Placing emphasis on voluntary,
safe and dignified return of Rohingyas to their places of origin,
he expressed his concern over about outbreak for the younger
generation and the situation of the women, children who need
increased protection. Earlier, the Swiss President went to the
Sadar Hospital to officially handover the Swiss contributions,
including hospital beds and medical equipment support to the
hospital management. He highlighted the important role
played by the doctors and the staff of this hospital in
providing much needed medical treatment to patents from the
host community as well as the Rohingya arrivals. Swiss
president said Switzerland pledged eight million Swiss francs
[equivalent to$8million] at a conference in Geneva in October
for emergency humanitarian aid for the Rohingya refugees in
Bangladesh. On Monday, he announced that this year
Switzerland will provide an additional 12 million francs
[equivalent to$12million] for the Rohingya refugees. He said
the agreement on repatriation between Bangladesh and
Myanmar was a positive step towards a solution to the current
crisis. "It'll be important that all returns are voluntary and safe,
and carried out with dignity," said the Swiss president. The
Swiss President left Cox's Bazar for Dhaka in the afternoon to
meet civil society representatives in the capital. The Swiss
Embassy in Dhaka said the visit is focused on solidarity with a
country that is severely affected by the crisis in neighbouring
Myanmar and the establishment of closer bilateral relations.
Given the extent of humanitarian crisis (Rohingya), Switzerland
earlier decided to increase its financial contribution to CHF 8
million. Switzerland also called upon the government of
Myanmar to fully respect its obligations under international
law, particularly to prevent all the human rights violations and
abuses, and ensure that the perpetrators of such violations are
brought to justice, thus creating the conditions essential for
the refugees' return.
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