EU boosts humanitarian aid in Bangladesh, Myanmar and for the Rohingya refugee crisis

The Commission has allocated €76 million in EU humanitarian to address the needs of people affected by the main crises in South and Southeast Asia. Out of this amount, €32.3m will support Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh. A further €33m will support the population affected by the ongoing conflict in Myanmar. The remaining €10.8m will support refugees and host communities in nearby countries in the region, as well as to strengthen disaster preparedness. 

Preparedness and Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, has visited Bangladesh where she visited Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, and meet with humanitarian partners and national authorities. 

In Bangladesh, €32.3m will support the over 1 million Rohingya refugees living in the country, mostly in Cox’s Bazar, as well as the host communities. Funding will be used for:

• food assistance and nutrition 
• maintenance of the camps’ shelters and other facilities
• provision of essential services such as healthcare, emergency education, and access to water and sanitation.

In Myanmar, €33 million allocated this year will be used for: 

• food assistance and emergency nutrition, given the high levels of food insecurity
• shelter for the many people displaced
• access to clean water and sanitation
• other basic services such as healthcare and emergency education
• mine risk education and assistance for victims of landmines
• disaster preparedness in the country, as it is highly prone to cyclones and floods. 

Given the regional spillover of Myanmar’s crisis, an additional allocation of €3.5m will provide life-saving aid to refugees and host communities in India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. 

€6m will be allocated to the Philippines, for both disaster preparedness measures as well as for the protracted impact of conflict in the Mindanao region. Regional support of €1.3m will also be provided for disaster preparedness across Southeast Asia. 

All EU humanitarian funding is channelled via partner organisations such as international NGOs and UN agencies.

Lahbib said: “When home is not an option, humanity must be. The EU stands firmly with Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, just as we have for the past 7 years. With conflict still raging in Rakhine State and across Myanmar, their safe and dignified return remains out of reach. Myanmar faces one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, and the EU has stepped up support every year since the military takeover in 2021. Our latest funding will ensure access to life-saving aid for the most vulnerable in South and Southeast Asia while strengthening disaster preparedness.”

Background 

South and Southeast Asian countries continue to face a complex mix of conflict and environmental challenges. It has been over 7 years since the major influx of Rohingya refugees to Bangladesh. With the conflict in Myanmar being one of the most intense in the world, a safe return to their place of origin is not likely in the near future. Insecurity has increased in the camps, with forced recruitment and other threats by armed groups on the rise. Against this background, more and more refugees are risking dangerous journeys to reach Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and India. 

In Myanmar, humanitarian needs have risen dramatically since the military takeover 4 years ago. Some 20 million people are in need of assistance, with at least 3.5 million displaced within the country. Fighting affects most of the country, with the conflict rated as the third deadliest in the world.

Meanwhile, in the Philippines communities in Mindanao continue to suffer the consequences of armed conflict, made worse by recurrent exposure to natural hazards. Last year the country was severely hit by multiple floods and tropical cyclones. 

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