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United Nations aid agencies and NGO partners launched on Friday the 2019 Joint Response Plan (JRP) to tackle the Rohingya humanitarian crisis.
The appeal seeks to raise USD920 million to meet the massive needs of more than 900,000 refugees from Myanmar and over 330,000 vulnerable Bangladeshis in host communities, said officials of the UNHCR and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
Critical aid and services such as food, water, sanitation and shelter represent more than half the funding needs this year.
Other key sectors of the appeal include health, site management, protection activities including child protection and addressing sexual and gender-based violence, education and nutrition.
More than 745,000 Rohingya refugees have fled from Myanmar's Rakhine State to Bangladesh since August 2017, escaping violence in Myanmar and joining roughly 200,000 others already displaced in the Cox's Bazar area by previous cycles of violence.
With the generosity and support of the Bangladeshi authorities and local communities, who were the first to respond to the emergency, critical needs were met and many lives were saved.
"The solidarity shown by the Government of Bangladesh and the commitment of humanitarian partners ensured the successful implementation of the first Joint Response Plan in 2018. Moving forward, we reiterate our commitment to meeting the dire needs of this population and urge the international community to support these efforts," said IOM Director General António Vitorino.
"Our humanitarian imperative today is to stabilise the situation of stateless Rohingya refugees and their Bangladeshi hosts. We are hoping for timely, predictable and flexible contributions in order to meet the goals of this year's appeal," said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi.
"But while we tackle these immediate humanitarian needs, we must not lose sight of solutions. I repeat my call to Myanmar to take urgent action to address the root causes of this crisis which have persisted for decades, so that people are no longer forced to flee and can eventually return home in safety and dignity. We encourage countries in this region and beyond to show solidarity with Bangladesh and to support Myanmar to start creating conditions for voluntary, safe and dignified return of Rohingya refugees," Grandi continued.
The new JRP sets out a comprehensive humanitarian effort shaped around three strategic objectives. By bringing together 132 partners - UN agencies, international and national NGOs and government bodies in a collective effort - the Plan aims to deliver protection to refugee women, men, girls and boys, provide life-saving assistance and foster social cohesion.
The 2019 JRP is the third joint humanitarian appeal and builds on achievements made thus far in order to further stabilise the situation of Rohingya refugees.
The UN agencies observe that until the root causes of displacement in Myanmar are addressed and refugees are able to voluntarily return in safety and dignity, support must be provided to the Bangladeshi authorities to meet the needs of refugees and the host communities.
The 2018 JRP was funded at 69 per cent or USD 655 million received against USD 950 million requested.
Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the JRP launching event, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam had a meeting with representatives of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the United Nations (UN).
"By opening our borders to the persecuted Rohingya, Bangladesh has not only saved lives but also stabilised the entire region. The international community has a shared responsibility to help restore the Rohingya's fundamental rights and freedom, including their right to return to Myanmar in safety and dignity," Shahriar Alam told the OIC envoys.
The state minister reached Geneva on Wednesday to attend the launch of the UN Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis for 2019, said a foreign ministry media release issued on Friday.
While briefing OIC Ambassadors and delegates about the evolving Rohingya situation, he sought OIC Member States' support for creating a conducive situation in Myanmar for their safe and dignified return.
He raised the issue of creating a civilian "safe zone" for the returnee Rohingyas in Myanmar, to be monitored by human rights and humanitarian outfits.
He also shared information on the government's plans to relocate a portion of the Rohingya population in Cox's Bazar to the Bhashan Char island in consultation with all concerned stakeholders.
The OIC ambassadors and delegates from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, Lebanon, Jordan, Libya, State of Palestine and the Maldives reaffirmed their solidarity with the forcibly-displaced Rohingya and commended Bangladesh for its generosity in hosting them.
The OIC Member States reiterated their commitment to helping find a peaceful and lasting solution to the crisis through sustained engagement in the relevant human rights and humanitarian fora in Geneva.
Mr Alam also had a bilateral meeting with Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, where they discussed the latest developments relating to the Rohingya crisis.