The 2024 Joint Response Plan, supported by the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR and migration agency IOM, is being led by the Government of Bangladesh.
The group aims to alleviate the plight of the approximately 1 million Rohingya refugees living in crowded camps on Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char Island after fleeing ethnic violence in neighboring Myanmar in August 2017.
Almost seven years later, Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said the need was “more serious and urgent than ever” and expressed hope that the crisis response would also help support some 346,000 people in host communities. expressed.
“Everyone is on deck.”
IOM Director-General Amy Pope said: “This is an 'all hands on deck' type of humanitarian crisis,” underscoring the scale of the response needed and underscoring the vital role of the World Food Program (WFP). did.
“Without food, everything else falls apart,” she warned.
In recent years, a lack of funding has exacerbated the challenges faced by Rohingya refugees, especially women and children. U.N. officials expressed hope that this year's appeal will generate stronger support.
UN special representative says protect children's rights
Virginia Gamba, the United Nations Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, spoke at the Human Rights Council on Wednesday, stressing the critical importance of protecting the rights of all children, especially in conflict areas.
She highlighted the alarming increase in serious violations in the past year, particularly in Haiti and Niger.
“I am particularly concerned about the recurrence or escalation of conflicts characterized by serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, including the use of explosives to attack civilians, protected personnel and infrastructure…particularly with Israel and The same goes for the occupied Palestinian territories, Myanmar, Sudan, Ukraine, and the central Sahel and Lake Chad basin regions.”
some success
On a positive note, Mr. Gamba highlighted successful engagement with parties to the conflict, including the signing of action plans to prevent violations in Iraq and Ukraine.
She encouraged cooperation with regional organizations such as the Human Rights Council, the Arab League, the African Union and the European Union to address child protection.
Ms Gamba called on the international community to reaffirm its obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and integrate children's rights into responses to global crises.
UN continues to provide aid amid chaos in Haiti
Despite multiple challenges, UN humanitarian agencies continue to support Haitians displaced by the recent escalation in violence and government collapse, while continuing regular aid programs across the country. continuing.
WFP has so far delivered about 75,000 meals, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York.
“Many of those in need are women and children. They need not only a safe place, but also emergency aid. We need safe and unimpeded access to all areas of Princes,” he said.
The first ship bound for Miragoane since the end of February has successfully left Port-au-Prince, amid signs that tensions may ease after Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned following threats of civil war from gangs.
The shipment included eight trucks carrying medicines and medical supplies for the health department of the Grand Sud department in the south of the country.
The consignment will be supplied to approximately 80 medical facilities in the region.
“About 5.5 million people, almost half of Haiti's population, are in need of humanitarian assistance,” Dujarric said, but “tragically” only 2.6% of humanitarian appeals to the country have been funded. do not have.
“We have $17.7 million in the bank and we need $674 million this year.”