Qatar Development Fund To Benefit 56,135 Rohingya In M'sia
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| Pic: NST Online |
February 17, 2017
PUTRAJAYA: The Qatar Development Fund, which will be used to help Rohingya refugees in Malaysia, will be coordinated by the National Security Council, together with other relevant ministries, agencies and non-governmental organisations.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the fund will be used for the welfare of 56,135 Rohingya refugees holding the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) card in the country.
“The fund is to implement three main aspects for the Rohingya, namely, training, education and health, which will create a positive effect in the long run.
“In terms of skills, the Home Ministry has already launched a pilot project to allow 300 Rohingya holding the UNHCR cards to work in Malaysia, starting March 1. They will be working in the plantation and manufacturing sectors for three years, while waiting to return to their country of origin or placed in a third country.
“(The teaching of) semi-skilled programmes; education of Rohingya children; and the (offering of) health insurance schemes will be carried out by the Human Resources Ministry, the Education Ministry and the Health Ministry,” he said in a statement after chairing the High Level Committee Meeting on Rohingya Management in Malaysia today.
Malaysia’s efforts in championing the rights and welfare of Rohingya refugees received support from the Qatar government during Zahid’s official visit to the country from Feb 4 to 7.
During the visit, Qatar announced that it will provide financial aid for programmes to help Rohingya refugees in Malaysia through the Qatar Development Fund.
