PV Desk : Nothing has changed for Rohingyas despite the fact that there is no shortage of initiatives to solve the crisis, said Peter Maurer, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross or ICRC.
“There is a “lose-lose situation for people” as they are suffering in both sides of the border – northern Rakhine State and the camps in Cox’s Bazar,” said Maurer at a press briefing in Dhaka on Tuesday after visiting Myanmar and Cox’s Bazar.
“Conditions to return will require not only humanitarian and mitigating activities, but also effective political steps towards ensuring freedom of movement, access to basic services, freedom to undertake economic activity and access to markets in Rakhine and most importantly trust in security arrangements for returnees.”
Maurer said he was not here to apportion blame. “Both governments are making efforts and I’m convinced of their goodwill.”
He met leaders of both Bangladesh and Myanmar – Sheikh Hasina and Aung San Suu Kyi, apart from meeting Myanmar’s generals.
“We have also seen the excellent recommendations from Kofi Annan’s Commission, which we support. Humanitarian organisations too are doing their best to alleviate the suffering,” Maurer said.
“But so far, despite all the talking and all the efforts, too little has changed for the people here,” the president said without using the word Rohingya for those persecuted people of Myanmar who denied their citizenships.”
