The Malta Independent 26 April 2024, Friday
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Two Maltese Members of Parliament visit the Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Thursday, 9 November 2017, 17:22 Last update: about 7 years ago

Members of Parliament Alex Muscat and Ryan Callus are currently visiting the refugee camp in Cox's Bazar hosting Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. At the end of the 63rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, the two MPs joined the British delegation on their own initiative, following a statement by Speaker of the House Anġlu Farrugia during a briefing on the Rohingya Crisis delivered during the opening of the conference held in Bangladesh by the Foreign minister of Bangladesh AH Mahmood Ali. 

The Speaker first presented the proposal to adopt a statement on the issue, terming it as a "great humanitarian crisis". The participants of the conference, hailing from 44 Commonwealth countries, welcomed the proposal, expressing solidarity with Bangladesh over the Rohingya crisis whilst stressing the need for resolution.The participants proposed adopting a statement on this issue in the General Assembly of the Conference, which was supported by the CPA Chairperson and Speaker of the Parliament of Bangladesh Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury. The statement, which was subsequently unanimously adopted at the General Assembly meeting held on 7th November 2017, states that, "the 63rd General Assembly of the CPA adopts by consensus the Statement calling for urgent action from the international community to resolve the ongoing humanitarian crisis facing the Rohingya's community".

Lord George Foulkes of the British House of Lords, who led the delegation to Rohingya, declared that the British delegation would visit Cox's Bazar to see the exact situation of the Rohingya people on the ground, while describing the crisis as "genocide". The two Maltese MPs Alex Muscat and Ryan Callus showed interest in visiting the area and therefore joined the British delegation on this mission and are expected to return to Malta on Friday 10 November 2017. 

 


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