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Bangladesh resists greater UNHCR role in Rohingya crisis

Bangladesh is refusing calls from some states and NGOs for a bigger role for the UN's refugee agency in the international response to the Rohingya refugee crisis.

As previously reported by IRIN, Bangladesh, in an unorthodox move, has chosen the International Organization for Migration to lead international relief efforts, not UNHCR.

The issue punctuated informal conversations at a Geneva pledging conference for the Rohingya, where officials gathered new promises of close to $100 million, making a total of $335 million since 25 August.

Several senior observers, speaking on condition of anonymity, told IRIN the policy has led to wasteful friction between IOM and UNHCR, and a weakening of the UN’s ability to effectively protect Rohingya refugees’ rights.