NEW YORK, September 29 — UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi met with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday ahead of a high-level international conference on the Rohingya crisis at the United Nations headquarters.
The two leaders held in-depth discussions on key aspects of the crisis, including the worsening humanitarian conditions in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, recent cuts in international aid affecting over one million refugees in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar, and ongoing diplomatic efforts to ensure the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of Rohingya to their homeland.
Chief Adviser Yunus noted that approximately 150,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh over the past 18 months, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation and raising regional tensions.
He expressed strong optimism that Tuesday’s landmark international conference—the first of its kind focused solely on the Rohingya—would produce a clear roadmap for resolving the crisis.
He added that the event is expected to galvanize international support, particularly in mobilizing much-needed funding for the over one million Rohingya refugees currently in Bangladesh.
Grandi praised last month’s regional conference in Cox’s Bazar, where Rohingya community leaders actively participated in the four-day deliberations for the first time.
He encouraged Bangladesh to intensify its diplomatic outreach, particularly with major global powers, to help achieve a durable solution to the crisis.
Also attending the meeting was Dr. Khalilur Rahman, National Security Adviser, who briefed the UNHCR chief on the ongoing verification process of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
"To date, approximately 250,000 Rohingya have been verified," he said.
UN Special Envoy on Myanmar Meets Chief Adviser
Julie Bishop, former acting Prime Minister of Australia and currently the UN Special Envoy on Myanmar, also called on Chief Adviser Yunus at a hotel in New York on Monday.
Their discussion covered the broader Rohingya crisis, the situation in Rakhine, the severe funding shortfall affecting Myanmar refugees, and key issues expected to be addressed in Tuesday’s conference.
Professor Yunus stressed the urgency of the matter, saying: "The return of the Rohingya people to their homeland is the only viable solution. There is no alternative."
He added, "Let’s hope tomorrow’s conference brings forth some meaningful proposals. This is not an issue the world can afford to forget."
Bishop emphasized the need to diversify funding sources for Rohingya support, calling on OIC member states to increase their contributions.
Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain, NCP leader Tasnim Jara, and SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed were also present at the meeting.