The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The European Commission has approved 1.5 million euro in humanitarian aid package for the unregistered Rohingya refugees of Teknaf and Cox's Bazar.

The assistance will focus on the relocation of refugees to a sustainable place and the provision of humanitarian aid, including shelter, water, health and nutrition, said an EC press release on Monday. Funds are being allocated via European Commission Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) under the responsibility of EC Commi-ssioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel. "The situation of these Rohingya refugees is continuing to deteriorate. These vulnerable people rely on international solidarity. There is an urgent need to create adequate living conditions for them. The Commission wants to express its solidarity by helping the victims of this forgotten crisis," said Louis Michel. Since 1978, around 2,00,000 Rohingya people have fled from Myanmar. More than 28,000 have found refuge in camps managed by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

Most of the others are hosted by local communities. In the region of Teknaf, around 10,000 undocumented Rohi-ngya refugees need to be relocated in order to empty overcrowded camp where living conditions are appalling.

The Commission funding will help this population resettle in a suitable place where their immediate needs will be met. Funds will provide multi-sectorial humanitarian support such as shelter, water and sanitation, access to healthcare, nutrition, protection activities and livelihood projects.

As this area is prone to neutral catastrophes, disaster preparedness activities will be also implemented. Interna-tional non-governmental organisations will operate this funding.

Besides, victims of natural disasters in Bangladesh have already benefited from ECHO humanitarian assistance in 2007 - euro 2.5 million after the flooding in August and euro 6.5 million following the recent cyclone Sidr. This fresh allocation will bring the Commission's support to the victims of crises in Bangladesh up to euro 10.5 million this year.