Dhaka, Jun 30 – Speakers at an event in Geneva on Friday have pleaded for a rights-based protection framework and adaptation-based resilience as the fundamental need for climate displaced people.UNHCR organised the side event in UNHCR NGO Annual Consultation at the international conference centre in Geneva, Switzerland on the day, says a press release issued on Saturday.
The side event was moderated by Atle Soleberg, Head of Coordination Unit, Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD) where Bangladesh is the current chair.
Speakers of the session included Madeline Garlick, Head of Protection, Policy and Legal Advice Section, DIP, UNHCR, Kristen Hite, Policy Advisor of Oxfam International, Nina M Birkeland, Senior Advisor of Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Chirrine El Labbane, Communication Officer of PDD, Gopal Krishna Shiwakoti, President INHUREDD Nepal, and Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Executive Director of COAST.
Madeline Garlick said UNHCR is giving importance to climate displacement issue as this is a priority agenda in their protection framework.
Atle Soleberg said the issue might be complex and there might be hopes and despair in respect of adaptation, mitigation and financing, but there are examples of adaptation in countries and strong concern from world political leaders as PDD is advancing the agenda.
Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of COAST Trust Bangladesh said now Rohingya refugees are also facing climate disaster and funding in response to that is quite low. – Staff Reporter
