Dhaka, 15 December 2023 (TDI): The Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) donated $87 million to the World Food Program (WFP) operating in Bangladesh to support Rohingya refugees.
The prompt financing will considerably support the World Food Program’s operations to provide critical nutrition and food assistance to Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar and on Bhasan Char Island.
There are approximately 1 million people residing in these refugee camps and are experiencing everyday difficulties, without an immediate possibility of safely going back to Myanmar. The provision of financial aid by USAID will enhance WFP’s efforts to provide food assistance from US$8 to US$10.
In addition, with the help of this money, WFP would be able to add fortified rice to the food basket supplies beginning in January 2024 as well as WFP’s endeavors in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char on nutrition, resiliency, and minimizing disaster risk. Moreover, around 8,000 children and 4,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women in the Cox’s Bazar host community would be helped to avoid malnutrition.
Reed Aeschliman, USAID Mission Director in Bangladesh, during a visit to the Cox’s Bazar camps, mentioned that the Rohingya refugees have gone through an immense crisis and the situation is concerning. The needs of the Rohingya or the welcoming communities in Bangladesh cannot be ignored.
While the United States has led the way in overall assistance, we understand that this has been a particularly hard year for refugees. Aeschliman emphasized that this necessitates continual backing from the government, donor members, and development partners.
World Food Program Bangladesh expressed thanks to the US and the other members of the international community of donors for their consistent support and generous contributions to assist the Rohingya people.
“We are extremely pleased with this positive development and hope that donors will continue to fund us to ensure the basic needs of the Rohingya refugee population are met,” said Dom Scalpelli, WFP Country Director in Bangladesh.
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The United Nations World Food Program is the world’s biggest humanitarian organization rescuing lives in emergencies and utilizing food aid to help people recover from conflict, disasters, and the effects of climate change.
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