US to Provide $152Mn More Assistance for Rohingya Refugees

Newly appointed US Ambassador Peter Haas today announced that the United States (US) will provide the additional US $152 million as new humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees and Bangladesh host communities.

The announcement follows as the envoy visited Cox's Bazar Rohingya camps from March 27-29 since the US Secretary of State's determination that members of the Myanmar military committed genocide, a US embassy press release said here today.

"This brings the total we've provided since August 2017 to $1.7 billion," said Ambassador Haas.

He said of this new funding, $125 million is for programs inside Bangladesh for Rohingya refugees and affected Bangladeshi communities.

During his visit, Haas interacted with local government officials and observed how US programs continue to assist Rohingya refugees and host communities by providing various aids.

"I am heartened by the strong collaborative relationship with humanitarian agencies working in the camps and host communities in Cox's Bazar," he said.

While in Cox's Bazar, the ambassador also visited a number of humanitarian organization's activities including the UNHCR program, mobile firefighting units developed by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), healthcare center's field lab and the liquified petroleum gas distribution center, according to the release.

On March 21, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced he had determined that members of the Burmese military had committed genocide and crimes against humanity against the Rohingya, the release added.