UN not involved in any discussion to establish humanitarian corridor in Rakhine: Gwyn Lewis
Responding to a question on humanitarian corridor, the UNRC said she does not know from where the terminology came from but it would require an agreement between Bangladesh and Myanmar
The United Nations has not been involved in any discussion to establish a humanitarian corridor in Rakhine state of Myanmar, UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis said yesterday (4 June).
"A humanitarian corridor is quite a formal legal issue, and it requires agreement between sovereign states. There is no humanitarian corridor in place as such," Lewis said.
Lewis made the remarks while speaking at ''DCAB Talk' at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital.
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Responding to a question on humanitarian corridor, the UNRC said she does not know from where the terminology came from but it would require an agreement between Bangladesh and Myanmar.
"As far as I know there has been no agreement yet between Myanmar and Bangladesh to provide support through the corridor," she said.
The UNRC said if there is an agreement, the UN can support it. "But that agreement that I understand has not been established yet."
During the talk, Lewis said they are working with the government and NGOs to prioritise life-saving assistance, including food, healthcare, shelter and protection, noting that the Rohingya refugee response remains a 'critical challenge'.
"We have a huge funding shortfall. In 2024, we mobilised $580 million under the Joint Response Plan for refugees and host communities. However, 2025 funding is expected to drop significantly and already has," she said.
The UNRC said they are trying to prioritise the most urgent needs of the community and they will continue to provide the basic support.
The UNRC added they remain 'deeply concerned' about the worsening humanitarian situation in Rakhine State.
She commended Bangladesh's generosity as a host country and reaffirmed their commitment to a rights-based, solutions-oriented humanitarian response.
"We aim to better equip the Rohingya for early, voluntary and sustainable return to Myanmar when conditions allow," Lewis said.
Over 1.3 million refugees reside in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char. Under government leadership, the UN and partners continue to provide life-saving support.
Looking ahead, Lewis said the UN in Bangladesh remains committed to being a principled, effective and responsive partner.
Lewis thinks any initiative to improve cross-border relations or to support people that are impacted by the conflict in Myanmar is very welcome and supported by the UN.
This week, she met Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and reaffirmed the UN's commitment to human and economic development, governance, human rights and gender equality.
"I reiterated our support for the Rohingya response, especially ahead of the high-level conference in September," Lewis said.
In his meeting with the UNRC on Tuesday (3 June), CA Yunus highlighted the urgent need for sustained international solidarity and enhanced support to address these funding shortfalls and assist the Rohingya population in a better way.
The Rohingya crisis remains unresolved and the prospect of their repatriation continues to be uncertain with the complex situation in Rakhine.
Diplomatic Correspondents Association Bangladesh (DCAB) hosted the event where DCAB President AKM Moinuddin and General Secretary Md Arifuzzaman Mamun also spoke.
