Amidst the worsening Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh, Father Jerry Gomes, a dedicated Jesuit priest leading Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) programs, issues a heartfelt plea for urgent global intervention.
By LiCAS News
Seven years have passed since over 700,000 Rohingya people fled Myanmar in search of safety, yet escalating tensions and diminishing aid within overcrowded camps now threaten their very survival.
In a poignant report by AsiaNews, Fr. Gomes emphasizes that Bangladesh alone cannot continue to bear the weight of this crisis and implores the international community to step in and take action.
Fr. Gomes, with seven years of service in Cox’s Bazar, attests to the ongoing violence within the camps, including theft, vandalism, murder, and kidnappings. As Myanmar’s civil unrest persists, an influx of Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh only further strains the limited resources available.
He stresses that without peace in Myanmar, the possibility of repatriation remains unattainable. “A peaceful and conducive environment is necessary for all ethnic communities to coexist harmoniously,” Fr. Gomes insists.
Since 2020, JRS has collaborated with Caritas Bangladesh to offer education, psychological support, and vocational training to over 6,000 Rohingya children and adolescents. However, a significant 70 percent funding gap impedes these critical initiatives, impacting the education of countless school-age children in the camps.
Fr. Gomes echoes the sentiments of Pope Francis, who in 2017 called for global compassion and justice for the Rohingya. He underscores the urgency for the international community to step forward and fulfill their responsibilities in aiding these vulnerable refugees.
“The international community must address the issue of repatriation as Bangladesh cannot indefinitely hold the Rohingya population,” Fr. Gomes stresses, urging swift action to establish peace in Myanmar and sustain the refugee population.
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