WB calls for global support

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim yesterday said Bangladesh needs more support from the world to help a million Rohingyas as he concluded his two-day visit.

President Kim, along with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, visited the Kutupalong camp in Cox's Bazar, the largest and most densely populated forcibly-displaced Rohingya settlement in the world, said a World Bank media release yesterday.

“I saw firsthand the sheer scale of the crisis and spoke with women and men facing extreme hardships. They are waiting for a chance to return to their village. Bangladesh has done a great service by keeping its borders open and supporting the Rohingyas. But much more needs to be done as monsoon rains, natural disasters and disease outbreaks are increasing. The international community needs to step up support,” said Kim.

Kim and Guterres interacted with Rohingya women and men and visited the transit camp, health centres and women-friendly spaces.

On Sunday, Kim met the prime minister and the finance minister, foreign minister and other senior government officials.

While commending Bangladesh for its generosity in providing shelter for the Rohingyas, he emphasised the World Bank's commitment to help the host community and the displaced people. “The World Bank will help Bangladesh sustain its impressive development progress while managing the dire situation created by this large influx. We have mobilised US $480 million grant-based support, which will help build country capacity to deal with the crisis,” he said.