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 WriterFor comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com
