The European Union and the United States have announced new funds to address the Rohingya crisis both in Bangladesh and Myanmar. At the launch of the 2020 Joint Response Plan, the European Commission is releasing €31 million in humanitarian aid to address the Rohingya crisis in both sides of the border.
The US announced more than $59 million in additional humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh, and internally displaced Rohingya and members of other affected communities in Myanmar. Out of the funding announced by the EU, €18.5 million will help the most vulnerable groups among refugees and host communities in Bangladesh.
This will be done by providing critical health care, food assistance and education in emergencies, the EU said in a statement. 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 health care, 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 2019 alone, the European Union provided close to €27 million in humanitarian aid for vulnerable Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshis in Cox's Bazar and other parts of the country, as well as €9 million to address the immediate needs of displaced and conflict-affected communities in Myanmar.
US Ambassador in Dhaka Earl Miller announced that with this new funding announcement, their total humanitarian assistance reaches almost $820 million, of which nearly $693 million is for programs inside Bangladesh.
“U.S. funding, including yesterday’s announcement, helps address the emergency needs of more than 900,000 refugees in Bangladesh, as well as the needs of the Bangladeshi communities in Cox’s Bazar affected by the ongoing crisis. The U.S. government remains committed to ensuring humanitarian and development assistance continues to reach Bangladeshi communities which have so generously hosted Rohingya refugees. We are proud the 2020 Joint Response Plan reflects an increased policy focus on their challenges,” he said.
He called on Myanmar to create the conditions that would allow for voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable returns of Rohingya, based on the informed consent of those who have been forcibly displaced. “And, critically, to ensure unhindered and sustained humanitarian access to all people requiring assistance.”
The United Nations agencies and NGOs on Tuesday appealed $877 million for Rohingya refugee response in Bangladesh while launching the 2020 Joint Response Plan in Geneva. State Minister for foreign affairs Md Shahriar Alam represented Bangladesh at the meeting.
