Int'l support for displaced people in Bangladesh inadequate: Geneva forum

A global forum in Geneva on Friday called for planning how to face coming disasters in countries like Bangladesh.

Participants at the side event of the UNHCR-NGO annual consultation expressed concern at the displacement of the people including Rohingya Muslims who fled Myanmar atrocities, according to a  message received in Dhaka on Saturday.

"In the absence of a sustainable source of livelihoods or safe place to reside, many people are forced to flee their homes, including those who have already fled for other reasons such as Rohingya Refugees," read the background paper of the event.

It added that coastal areas are also particularly vulnerable, such as in southern Bangladesh.

Dwerlling on the plight of the Rohingya people, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of COAST Trust Bangladesh said, “The funding is quite low in response to their vulnerability.”

He cautioned that 42 per cent of population in Bangladesh would be displaced in case there is climate disaster.

“Bangladesh is a victim of climate impact and it is investing around $1 billion per year for adaptation but receiving a very little assistance from international community,” Rezaul Karim added.

Addressing the event at the international conference centre of Geneva, Kristen Hite of Oxfam International said there was a need of planning how to face the future disasters.

UNHCR and International Organisation for Migration (IOM )are working on global refugees and migration issues, said Madeline Garlick, head of protection, policy and legal affairs section of the UNHCR.

The side event was moderated by Atle Soleberg, head of coordination unit of Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD) currently chaired by Bangladesh.

Other speakers there were Nina M Birkeland, senior advisor of Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Chirrine El Labbane, communication officer of PDD, and Gopal Krishna Shiwakoti, president INHUREDD Nepal.