Alok Sharma announces additional £87m support to Rohingya refugees  

BRITISH International Development Secretary Alok Sharma has announced a new aid package for the Rohingya refugees.

The UK’s additional £87 million will be used to sustain the Rohingya refugee operation in Cox’s Bazaar.

The latest funding announced has lifted the UK’s contribution to a total of £226m to Rohingya refugee operation in Bangladesh since the start of the crisis in 2017.

The funding will help provide food, healthcare, water, sanitation, and counselling for sexual violence survivors, as well as protection for vulnerable groups, including women and girls, a statement said on Monday (23).

Sharma said: “It is hard to truly grasp the size of the humanitarian crisis faced by the Rohingya people. More than 700,000 were forced to flee their home in the face of horrific brutality.

“The UK has worked with the Government of Bangladesh to provide lifesaving aid, including food, water and shelter, as well as education and counselling as they rebuild their lives.

“Women and girls represent over half of the camp population in Bangladesh, and this new funding will provide vital support for them, such as critical reproductive healthcare, and a new emergency shelter for survivors of severe gender-based violence and trafficking.”

The new commitment comes with the UK’s overarching aim to find a solution to ensure the Rohingya can voluntarily return to Myanmar in safety and dignity.

The UK aid has also provided support to the Rohingya since 2012 before this crisis began.