Switzerland increases aid for Rohingya refugees to 8 million francs

Switzerland has announced a plan to increase aid for Rohingya refugees to 8 million francs at a meeting in Geneva, the Swiss Embassy in Dhaka says.

The international community came together in Geneva on Monday to mobilise funds to support the humanitarian response to the Rohingya refugee crisis. 
 
Given the extent of this humanitarian crisis, Switzerland has decided to increase its financial contribution from the earlier announced 1.8 million Swiss francs.
 
The Humanitarian Aid Department of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has been donating the fund to operations run by UNHCR, IOM, WFP and various NGOs. It has also provided tents and other emergency in kind supplies. 
Switzerland remains “deeply concerned” by reports of serious human rights violations and by the security and humanitarian situation in Rakhine State. 
 
It condemns the attacks of Aug 25 on police stations as well as the systematic destruction of villages throughout northern Rakhine State by government forces in response to these attacks. 
 
It calls upon the government of Myanmar to fully respect its obligations under international law, particularly to prevent all human rights violations and abuses, and to ensure that the perpetrators of such violations are brought to justice, thus creating the conditions essential for the refugees' return. 
 
Switzerland urges Myanmar to immediately move forward with implementing the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State.