Statement by EU Commissioner Georgieva on humanitarian access to Rohingya
MEMO
Brussels, 9 August 2012
Statement by Commissioner Georgieva on humanitarian access to Rohingya and other affected communities
For several years, some 40,000 unregistered Rohingya refugees from Myanmar have been receiving life-saving assistance from three international NGOs funded by the European Commission in two makeshift camps. In spite of the recent violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State, the population of these camps has remained stable. However, the authorities in Dhaka have now requested the three international NGOs, who also assist the local Bangladeshi population, to cease their humanitarian activities.
EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva, expressed her deep concern about this decision and the situation of the Rohingyas, and other vulnerable people affected by these events.
"I strongly appeal to the Government of Bangladesh to act responsibly and offer a helping hand to all those in need and to allow humanitarian aid organisations to do their work for the benefit of all communities."
Commissioner Georgieva further emphasised the need to create acceptable conditions for the delivery of humanitarian aid in Rakhine State in Myanmar.
The European Commission, through its humanitarian and civil protection department ECHO has allocated EUR 10 million in 2012 benefiting both Rohingyas and other communities in need in Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Source here
