Additional EU aid for Rohingyas reaches Bangladesh

The European Commission has released an additional €5 million to provide life-saving food assistance to the Rohingya communities stranded in Bangladesh.

This comes on top of the €40 million in humanitarian aid announced in May in response to the crisis.

"Today's additional funding is another clear sign that the EU remains committed to stand by the side of the Rohingya for as long as it takes,” said Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides in a statement.

“Food assistance is an absolute necessity, and we will continue to support both Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh throughout this crisis”.

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar rely entirely on humanitarian aid for their survival.

The additional EU funding will provide urgently needed food assistance to refugees, while ensuring access to food throughout the camps, makeshift settlements and host communities.

Over 700,000 Rohingya refugees have crossed the border into neighbouring Bangladesh since Aug last year following a military crackdown.

This massive displacement has entered its second year, in what has become a protracted crisis with severe humanitarian consequences.

Vulnerabilities continue to grow as exposure to natural hazards and the congestion of the refugee camps pose enormous strains on displaced communities.

Since 2017, the European Commission has allocated almost €115 million to the Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh, including €30 million announced during the Pledging Conference on the Rohingya Refugee Crisis, which the EU co-hosted in October 2017.

The European Commission has funded relief programmes in Cox's Bazar District of Bangladesh since 1994.

The EU humanitarian relief focuses on food assistance, nutritional support, clean water and sanitation facilities, access to health care services, as well as increased protection for the most vulnerable groups.