Daily Times

The announcement was made recently by Enrico Nunziata, Italian ambassador to Bangladesh. Since the beginning of the Rohingya refugee crisis in August 2017, Italy has constantly given its contribution through main international organizations and UN agencies.

Earlier, five years after the breakout of the Rohingya crisis, the Italian Embassy, and 13 other foreign missions in Bangladesh, delivered a joint statement in solidarity with the Rohingya people on August 25, 2022. The Italian government expressed grave concern for the 2017 Rohingya exodus from Myanmar and pledged 7 million euros for Rohingya refugees.

Italy pledged to provide an additional €1 million ($1.1 million) in 2020 in aid to Rohingya Muslims living in makeshift camps in Bangladesh’s southern district of Cox’s Bazar, according to media reports.

This contribution from the government and the people of Italy helped UNHCR continue providing life-saving protection and assistance for almost one million Rohingya refugees, who remain reliant on humanitarian assistance for survival. This included access to health, water and sanitation, as well as crucial protection services, and support for refugees’ education and skills development, particularly for women and children.

This generous contribution from Italy, which came from its foreign policy budget, highlighted the longer-term nature of this commitment and was all the more welcome now that we anticipate a significant reduction in financial support from the international community.

Italy has announced EUR 3 million for the continued protection and humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees.

The grant of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation was a contribution to the Rohingya’s protection, as set up in the Joint Response Plan, in line with the commitment of the Italian government to maintain access to critical and life-sustaining services for refugees living both in Cox’s Bazar camps and on Bhasan Char.

Now is the time to put pressure on the Rohingya crisis. Because those forces are killing the people of their country after a military coup in February this year. Italy can contribute more in this regard.

Italy can motivate to change the attitude of the international community towards the Rohingya crisis. Italy can engage itself with the international community, especially Russia and China in this regard. Beijing and Moscow need to come out of Pandora’s box on the Rohingya issue.

As an active member of the EU, Italy should play a significant role in the platform. All members of the platform, including France, can pressurise Myanmar to take back the Rohingyas. Italy can raise the issue at the seminars, and sessions, at the EU.

Italy and all members of the EU should stop selling military equipment imposing an embargo. Pressure on Myanmar can be the strict solution to this problem. Italy can play an effective role in the EU in this regard.

Italian companies can Suspend any kind of activities in Myanmar. Italy has very good bilateral trade ties with ASEAN and can negotiate with the members in this regard.

A recent contribution from Italy will enable the UNHCR to provide protection services such as registration, access to justice, support for survivors of gender-based violence, community-based protection and child-friendly spaces.

It will also empower the refugee communities, through education, by training teachers to implement the Myanmar curriculum in the camps, and skills development for women, to improve their resilience until they can return to Myanmar.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes the generous contribution of EUR 3 million by the Government of Italy for the continued protection and humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees.

Five years after being forced to flee violence in Myanmar, some 920,000 Rohingya refugees are currently hosted in densely populated camps in Cox’s Bazar, with an additional 30,000 refugees residing in Bhasan Char. Italy’s contribution to Rohingyas is really appreciable.

We know that US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken has said the United States is working to significantly increase the resettlement of Rohingya refugees.

The US government will take 62 Rohingyas in the first wave. “300 to 800 Rohingyas are anticipated to be moved to the USA annually.” 24 migrants have already departed for their new location.

Italy’s assistance as a permanent member of the UN Security Council would be very positive. If they want, a way can be made to solve the Rohingya crisis. Four years ago, another permanent member of the Security Council, the United Kingdom, proposed to the Security Council that Myanmar work with the United Nations to resolve the Rohingya refugee crisis. The issue did not go far as China and Russia boycotted the initiative. In the changed circumstances, if Italy takes such an initiative again, it can be successful. The Myanmar government signed an agreement with Bangladesh in late 2017 to repatriate the Rohingya. So far, repatriation has not started as per the agreement. In addition, new crises including security are being created.

More involvement of international is needed to assist in the repatriation of Rohingya. More countries have to involve in this. It is the responsibility of the international community to work actively to address this humanitarian crisis. Italy can play an important role because of its significant acceptance and credibility amongst the international community.

The writer is a freelance columnist.