USA announces new funding for Rohingyas and host communities

The USA has announced nearly $199 million in new assistance for Rohingya refugees and communities hosting them in Bangladesh and the region. In Bangladeshi currency the amount is about Tk2,378.80 crore.

Uzra Zeya, US Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights made the announcement while participating in the High-Level UNGA Side Event on the Rohingya Crisis on Tuesday (September 24).

Later, the US state department issued a press notification in this regard.

According to the notification, this funding includes nearly $70 million through the Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) and over $129 million from USAID, $78 million of which comes from the Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation which will help USAID to purchase, ship, and distribute food from American farmers to Rohingya refugees and host community members in Bangladesh.

This U.S. assistance will save lives and help protect, shelter, and feed those forced to flee violence and persecution.  Additionally, it will be used to: support disaster preparedness and protection for refugees and host communities; bolster access to education and skills training; and prepare refugees for their potential return home when conditions allow, said the statement.

The U.S. government has provided more than $2.5 billion for the regional Rohingya response since August 2017, including more than $2.1 billion in Bangladesh, of which nearly $1.3 billion was contributed through PRM.

The United States remains committed to delivering assistance to crisis-affected communities in Bangladesh and the region and calls on other donors to continue their support.