US urges Myanmar to create safe conditions

The United States has urged Myanmar to create conditions that would allow for “voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable” returns, based on the informed consent of those who have been forcibly displaced.

The US also encouraged the government of Myanmar to work with the government of Bangladesh to facilitate use of Burmese curriculum to teach Rohingyas in Bangladesh.

This will help facilitate the reintegration of Rohingya youth who choose to return to Myanmar, according to US Department of State.

The US made the fresh call on Tuesday in New York, while announcing more than $127 million in additional humanitarian assistance for Rohingyas and host communities in Bangladesh and internally displaced Rohingya and members of other affected communities in Myanmar, reports UNB.

“We welcome the contribution that some Member States have made to this humanitarian response in recent months, and we encourage them to do more and call on other countries and stakeholders to contribute,” read a statement issued by the Department of State.

US assistance provides protection, emergency shelter, food, nutrition, health, psychosocial support, education, and water, sanitation, and hygiene support for people affected by the crisis, among other activities, it said.

This funding also includes programmes to improve disaster preparedness and bolster access to education for Rohingya in Bangladesh, which will be key to preventing instability in the camps and preparing Rohingya for voluntary repatriation when conditions are conducive to such returns.

The United States commended the Bangladesh government’s generosity in responding to this humanitarian crisis and appreciates its continued efforts to ensure that assistance reaches the affected populations.

The US government said it remains committed to ensuring that humanitarian and development assistance continues to reach the Bangladeshi communities who have so generously hosted Rohingya refugees.

The latest funding is expected to help address emergency needs of some of  the more than 900,000 Rohingyas in Bangladesh, many of whom are women  and children from Rakhine State in Myanmar, as well as the related needs  of Bangladeshi host communities.

The funding will also  provide life-saving assistance to internally displaced persons,  including Rohingya, and members of other affected communities in  Myanmar, including those affected by the fighting between the Myanmar   military and the Arakan Army. The United States remains the leading  contributor to the humanitarian response to this crisis in Myanmar and  Bangladesh, providing more than $669 million since the outbreak of  violence. Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas, most of whom entered Cox’s Bazar since August 25, 2017.

MILLER ADDRESSES FACEBOOK LIVE

Meanwhile, US Ambassador Earl R Miller spoke in a Facebook Live session yesterday morning from his Dhaka office, announcing the new US contribution to address the crisis.  He lauded the people of Bangladesh “who opened their hearts to host the refugees”, and the UN and humanitarian partners “for their tireless and admirable commitment to assisting refugee and Bangladeshi communities”.

Miller further said $89 million of the announced funding will go to programmes in Bangladesh, assisting both Rohingyas and the host community.