Guterres visits Bangladesh to assess state of Rohingyas

Sub: IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

Antonio Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, is on a four-day visit to Bangladesh to assess the situation of the Rohingya refugees.
This visit comes at a time of growing concern over the potential reduction of aid to the refugees, following the United States’ decision to shut down USAID operations in the region.

Background:

The Rohingya crisis emerged after a military crackdown in Myanmar in 2017, forcing over 700,000 Rohingya refugees to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh.
The refugees have since lived in crowded camps like the one in Cox’s Bazar, one of the world’s largest refugee settlements. The humanitarian situation remains dire, with limited resources and growing dependency on international aid.
The UN has condemned Myanmar for ethnic cleansing. Myanmar is facing a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for genocide.

About Rohingyas:

The Rohingyas are a Muslim minority ethnic group, primarily from the Rakhine state of Myanmar, who have faced persecution due to their religion and ethnicity.
The Rohingyas are stateless due to Myanmar’s 1982 Citizenship Law, which denies them citizenship.
They have been subjected to violence, discrimination, and forced displacement, especially during the 2017 military crackdown, which led to over 700,000 refugees fleeing toBangladesh.

UN Secretary-General (UNSG):

The UNSG is the chief administrative officer of the United Nationsand plays a crucial role in promoting peace, security, and international cooperation.
The UNSG is appointed by the UN General Assemblyon the recommendation of the UN Security Council.
To be selected as a UN Secretary-General, a candidate must receive the votes of at least 9 members of the United Nations Security Council, with no vetoes from permanent members (the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China).
The current term of the Secretary-General is five years, with a possibility to be re-appointed for a second five-year term.
The UNSG operates under the principles of neutrality and impartiality, as outlined in the UN Charter, ensuring that decisions and actions are not influenced by member states.