German aid for Rohingyas reaches US$30 million

The German government has made a fresh contribution of US$4.5 million for the welfare of Rohingya families and their host communities in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

With the latest, the German contribution to the Rohingyas now reached US$30 million since the onset of the refugee crisis in 2017, says a WFP statement on Wednesday.

“This contribution will support the Government of Bangladesh to meet its commitment to the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals as well as their host communities in Cox’s Bazar. Lifesaving assistance is particularly important now with the ongoing pandemic and heavy monsoon rains, both of which are posing great risks to vulnerable families,” said Md. Mohsin, Secretary, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.

The entire population of the 859,000 Rohingyas living across the camps in Cox’s Bazar, one of the poorest districts of Bangladesh, relies heavily on WFP for food.

In addition, WFP provides nutrition and livelihoods support to the host communities in order to improve their long-term food security outlook.

“As a longstanding partner to the Government of Bangladesh and WFP, we are pleased to know that our contribution is helping humanitarian workers in the frontline continue their lifesaving work for  some of the most vulnerable people during such trying times,” said Peter Fahrenholtz, German Ambassador to Bangladesh.

Through the German Federal Foreign Office, the new funding support from Germany will also go towards telecommunications services in support of the work of the wider humanitarian community. 

“At a time when COVID-19 is exacerbating inequalities and severely impacting communities in Bangladesh and also around the world, we are especially grateful for such an act of solidarity and generosity from Germany,” said Richard Ragan, WFP Country Director in Bangladesh.

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