Many of the Rohingya refugees I met in Cox’s Bazar 🇧🇩 were young children, some born in the camps.
They've been through a lot in a short time, but still remain hopeful of a bright future.
We remain committed to finding the opportunities they deserve — for as long as it takes.
Good discussions with Ambassador
@muhammad_muhith
at the Bangladesh Mission today in New York. Thanked him for the role 🇧🇩 continues to play in keeping the situation of Rohingya refugees on the multilateral agenda!
Great to meet Ambassador
@BobRae48
today and exchange on the refugee situation in Asia. Thanked him for 🇨🇦’s support to the region, and for his own leadership, particularly on the Rohingya situation since 2017.
Amidst challenging times, important discussions this week with UNHCR Representatives from across Asia and the Pacific on how we can strengthen the protection of refugees and mobilise resources for this work in the region.
Pleased to call on the U.S. Ambassador to 🇹🇭 this morning in Bangkok.
UNHCR is grateful to the 🇺🇸 for its steadfast support to refugees in 🇹🇭 and across the Asia region.
Pleased to be in Dhaka 🇧🇩 for my first visit as UNHCR’s Director for Asia and the Pacific. Further to pledges made at the Global Refugee Forum, we had positive conversations on ways to keep attention on the Rohingya situation and strengthen our collective efforts.
Good discussions with
@DDFaisalM
at the 🇲🇾 mission in New York. Malaysia remains a major host of refugees from Myanmar, and an important advocate for improving the humanitarian situation in the country. Terima kasih!
Pleased to address UNHCR’s Standing Committee for the first time today.
I spoke about the importance of not losing focus on the two major refugee situations in our region — Afghanistan and Myanmar — amidst other global humanitarian crises.
With more than 1/2 million Afghans returning from Pakistan in recent months, I visited reception points yesterday + met with returning families. They asked for our continued assistance to help reintegrate, as well as support for those still in Pakistan. This remains our priority.
Pleased to call on the Permanent Secretary of MFA 🇹🇭 today and thank her for Thailand’s hosting of our regional office in Bangkok.
We exchanged on the situation for displaced and stateless people across the region and ways we can strengthen our cooperation.
Today we launched the 2024 Joint Response Plan in support of Rohingya refugees and their generous host communities, together with the Government of 🇧🇩.
We are grateful to partners for recommitting to support Rohingya refugees to lead safe + decent lives, until solutions found.
Productive discussions with DAS Wynne and PRM in Washington today on UNHCR’s work in Asia and Pacific, steadfastly supported by the US Government and people. Thank you 🇺🇸!
On
#IWD
, I think especially of our female colleagues in Afghanistan. They continue to work to serve people in need every day, and I was humbled to mark
#IWD
with them last week in Kandahar.
Honoured to speak at the opening of the World Conference on Statelessness in Kuala Lumpur 🇲🇾, one of the largest gatherings ever on Statelessness.
2/3 of stateless people worldwide reside in Asia, and we remain committed to working alongside them to find solutions in the region.
In Asia and beyond, women and children disproportionately bear the brunt of conflict and displacement.
Together with our partners we work to ensure they receive the protection and support they need for their wellbeing.
In Aceh 🇮🇩, I met young Rohingya women and girls who have survived deadly boat journeys.
Along the way, they had lost everything, but not hope.
We must strengthen our resolve to find solutions for refugees like them, in Asia and beyond.
Malaysia 🇲🇾 hosts nearly 200,000 refugees, the majority from Myanmar. I was pleased to visit UNHCR’s operation this week and see the work being done alongside refugee communities to provide education, health and other kinds of support.
Pleased to meet the Ambassador of Lao PDR 🇱🇦 in Geneva yesterday.
As Lao continues its chairmanship of ASEAN this year, we discussed ways to keep attention on displacement issues across southeast Asia.