€1 million EU grants to WHO for Rohingya health services

A European Union grant of €1 million is helping the World Health Organization to strengthen health services for the around one million vulnerable Rohingyas and their host communities in Cox’s Bazar, who remain at risk of disease outbreaks.

“The funds are being used to strengthen life-saving primary health care services and enhance capacities to minimise the number of deaths and cases in the event of an outbreak,” said Bardan Jung Rana, WHO’s Representative to Bangladesh, in a statement.

The WHO is working with the Bangladesh government to address the huge health needs of this vulnerable population, and coordinating the work of over 100 national and international health partners in the Rohingya camps and adjoining areas.

The WHO has also distributed nearly 200 metric tons of medicines, supplies and equipment to health facilities and partners.

“The EU grant will enable WHO to sustain and build on a number of essential services,” said Khalid El Tahir, WHO’s Incident Manager, who is heading the emergency operations for WHO in Cox’s Bazar.

The grant will also be used to strengthen disease surveillance to guard against and reinforce WHO’scoordination capacity to respond to disease outbreaks, Dr Khalid said.

Nearly 700,000 Rohingya refugees arrived in Cox’s Bazar since Aug 25 last year, overwhelming the already fragile environment and health facilities.

The EU with its member states is a leading global donor of humanitarian aid.

Through the European Commission's Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO), the EU helps over 120 million victims of conflict and disasters every year.