EU Urges Bangladesh To Ensure Humanitarian Access To Rohingya Refugees

(RTTNews) -

The European Union has urged Bangladesh to ensure humanitarian access to Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, and to allow humanitarian aid organizations "to do their work for the benefit of all 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, which also assist the local Bangladeshi population, to stop their humanitarian activities.

In a statement on Thursday, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid & Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva expressed her deep concern about the 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 organizations to do their work for the benefit of all communities," she said.

Georgieva emphasized 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.

by RTT Staff Writer
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