UNB, Cox’s Bazar :
The United States, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing an additional $44 million in humanitarian assistance to meet the urgent needs of Rohingya refugees and others affected by violence and conflict in Myanmar.
This brings the US contribution to the crisis response in Myanmar and Bangladesh to more than $207 million since August 25 last year and total US humanitarian assistance for displaced Rohingya in and from Burma to more than $299 million since October 1, 2016. USAID Administrator Mark Green announced this new funding during his visit to the Kutapalong camp in the district. US Ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Bernicat was also present. Since last August, nearly 700,000 Rohingya people have fled violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, crossing the border into Bangladesh, which was already hosting more than 300,000 Rohingya refugees.
In addition, in Myanmar, 8.3 million people live in areas affected by conflict, not only in Rakhine State, but throughout the country. This conflict, and the ensuing displacement of people, has created one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. The United States remains committed to helping those affected by this conflict and commend the government and people of Bangladesh, who have responded swiftly and generously to the refugees arriving in Bangladesh, says the US Embassy in Dhaka. As the world’s largest humanitarian provider, the United States is actively responding to urgent needs on both sides of the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, it said. This funding announcement brings the total USAID support to respond to the crisis to $100 million since August 2017.
With this new funding, the United States will provide emergency food assistance in and around Cox’s Bazar, to include emergency food for general distribution, specialized foods to treat acute malnutrition, and vouchers so refugees can buy food in local markets, where available. This funding will also provide
emergency food and nutrition assistance, shelter, medical care, and other critical aid for millions of people affected by the ongoing conflict in Rakhine, Shan, and Kachin States in Myanmar. This US assistance also supports humanitarian organizations, including the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UNICEF, and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to provide protection, emergency shelter, water, sanitation, health care, and psychosocial support for people affected by the crisis. The assistance also support disaster preparedness for the impending monsoon and cyclone seasons, in order to prevent loss of life, shelter, and access to critical services. In addition to humanitarian funding, other assistance to Cox’s Bazar host communities is delivered by the World Food Program through a grant funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s McGovern-Dole program (International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program: Bangladesh). This school feeding program provides nearly 48,000 primary school children in Cox’s Bazar with a daily high energy biscuit, establishes school gardens, and improves the health and dietary practices within the local communities. Also, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides direct technical and scientific support to prevent, detect, and respond to disease outbreaks and other major public health issues facing the Rohingya.
The United States, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing an additional $44 million in humanitarian assistance to meet the urgent needs of Rohingya refugees and others affected by violence and conflict in Myanmar.
This brings the US contribution to the crisis response in Myanmar and Bangladesh to more than $207 million since August 25 last year and total US humanitarian assistance for displaced Rohingya in and from Burma to more than $299 million since October 1, 2016. USAID Administrator Mark Green announced this new funding during his visit to the Kutapalong camp in the district. US Ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Bernicat was also present. Since last August, nearly 700,000 Rohingya people have fled violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, crossing the border into Bangladesh, which was already hosting more than 300,000 Rohingya refugees.
In addition, in Myanmar, 8.3 million people live in areas affected by conflict, not only in Rakhine State, but throughout the country. This conflict, and the ensuing displacement of people, has created one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. The United States remains committed to helping those affected by this conflict and commend the government and people of Bangladesh, who have responded swiftly and generously to the refugees arriving in Bangladesh, says the US Embassy in Dhaka. As the world’s largest humanitarian provider, the United States is actively responding to urgent needs on both sides of the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, it said. This funding announcement brings the total USAID support to respond to the crisis to $100 million since August 2017.
With this new funding, the United States will provide emergency food assistance in and around Cox’s Bazar, to include emergency food for general distribution, specialized foods to treat acute malnutrition, and vouchers so refugees can buy food in local markets, where available. This funding will also provide
emergency food and nutrition assistance, shelter, medical care, and other critical aid for millions of people affected by the ongoing conflict in Rakhine, Shan, and Kachin States in Myanmar. This US assistance also supports humanitarian organizations, including the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UNICEF, and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to provide protection, emergency shelter, water, sanitation, health care, and psychosocial support for people affected by the crisis. The assistance also support disaster preparedness for the impending monsoon and cyclone seasons, in order to prevent loss of life, shelter, and access to critical services. In addition to humanitarian funding, other assistance to Cox’s Bazar host communities is delivered by the World Food Program through a grant funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s McGovern-Dole program (International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program: Bangladesh). This school feeding program provides nearly 48,000 primary school children in Cox’s Bazar with a daily high energy biscuit, establishes school gardens, and improves the health and dietary practices within the local communities. Also, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides direct technical and scientific support to prevent, detect, and respond to disease outbreaks and other major public health issues facing the Rohingya.
