US, EU offer $93m in humanitarian aid
Rohingyas, hosts in Bangladesh, Myanmar are beneficiaries
Staff Reporter, Dhaka
The United States (US) and the European Union (EU) have announced $94 million in humanitarian assistance for Rohingyas and host communities in Bangladesh and in Myanmar. At the launch of the 2020 Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya in Geneva, the United States announced more than $59 million in additional humanitarian assistance, said US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller in a statement issued yesterday. The funds will help address the emergency needs of more than 900,000 refugees in Bangladesh, as well as the needs of the Bangladeshi communities in Coxs Bazar affected by the ongoing crisis.
The United States cannot meet this crisis tremendous needs alone. We welcome the contributions many donors have made in recent months. We continue to call on other countries to contribute as well. We commend the Government of Bangladeshs generosity in responding to this crisis and its continued efforts to ensure assistance reaches the affected populations both Rohingya and Bangladeshi, said the statement.
UNB adds: The European Commission is releasing 31 million (around $34 million) in humanitarian aid to address the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh and Myanmar. European Commi-ssioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic has said the Rohingya crisis is in its third year and it is more important than ever to maintain their support and not forget those that remain dependent on humanitarian aid to survive.
We are committed to supporting both refugees and host communities in Coxs Bazar, as well as to the vulnerable Rohingya in Myanmar. It will ensure that those most in need continue to receive life-saving assistance, while being protected from the effects of flood and other hazards, said the European Commissioner. Out of the funding announced yesterday, 18.5 million will help the most vulnerable groups among refugees and host communities in Bangladesh, according to the European Commission.
This will be done by providing critical health care, food assistance and education in emergencies. Another 3.5 million will go towards building the local communities capacities to prepare for and manage natural disasters. In Myanmar, 6.5 million will focus on helping communities in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan states by providing healthcare, nutrition, education and shelter. Protection is also at the core of this support, with a specific focus on registration and documentation. Another 2.5 million will boost the local preparedness system in case of conflict or natural disasters.
In total, almost 1 million refugees are living in camps in the Coxs Bazar district and are fully reliant on humanitarian assistance. Since 2017, the European Union has provided over 150 million in humanitarian aid to respond to the Rohingya crisis both in Myanmar and in Bangladesh.
The EU provides shelters, healthcare, water and sanitation support, nutrition assistance, education, and protection services. Approximately 600,000 remaining Rohingya people in Myanmars Rakhine continue to suffer from a protracted human right crisis, with very limited access to basic services and viable livelihood opportunities due to strict movement restrictions and denied citizenship and rights.
