GENEVA, Feb 16 (NNN-BSS) – United Nations (UN) aid agencies and NGO
partners made an appeal to get 920 million US dollars to meet the
massive needs of more than 900,000 refugees from Myanmar and over 330,000 vulnerable Bangladeshis in host communities for 2019.
They made the appeal together by launching 2019 Joint Response Plan
(JRP) for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis, said a joint press release of
UNHCR and IOM.
“The solidarity shown by the Government of Bangladesh and the commitment of humanitarian partners ensured the successful implementation of the first Joint Response Plan in 2018,” said International Organization for Migration Director General Antonio Vitorino.
Moving forward, he said “we reiterate our commitment to meeting the dire
needs of this population and urge the international community to support
these efforts.”
Critical aid and services such as food, water, sanitation and shelter
represent more than half of the funding needs this year. Other key sectors of the appeal include health, site management, protection activities including child protection and addressing sexual and gender-based violence, education and nutrition, said the release.
More than 745,000 Rohingya refugees have fled from Myanmar’s Rakhine
State to Bangladesh since August 2017, escaping violence in Myanmar and
joining roughly 200,000 others already displaced in the Cox’s Bazar area by
previous cycles of violence, it mentioned.
“Our humanitarian imperative today is to stabilise the situation of
stateless Rohingya refugees and their Bangladesh hosts. We are hoping for
timely, predictable and flexible contributions in order to meet the goals of
this year’s appeal,” said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo
Grandi.
He said “But while we tackle these immediate humanitarian needs we must
not lose sight of solutions. I repeat my call to Myanmar to take urgent
action to address the root causes of this crisis which have persisted for
decades, so that people are no longer forced to flee and can eventually
return home in safety and dignity.”
Grandi encourages countries in this region and beyond to show solidarity
with Bangladesh and to support Myanmar to start creating conditions for
voluntary, safe and dignified return of Rohingya refugees.
The new JRP sets out a comprehensive humanitarian effort shaped around
three strategic objectives. By bringing together 132 partners – UN agencies,
international and national NGOs and government bodies in a collective effort – the plan aims to deliver protection to refugee women, men, girls and boys, provide life-saving assistance and foster social cohesion.
The 2019 JRP is the third joint humanitarian appeal and builds on
achievements made thus far in order to further stabilize the situation of
Rohingya refugees.
The 2018 JRP was funded at 69 per cent, or US $ 655 million received
against US$ 950 million requested, said the release. — NNN-BSS
