The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has welcomed a contribution of €2 million euro from the European Union (EU) for its emergency operation in Bangladesh.
WFP Representative and Country Director in Bangladesh Richard Ragan confirmed the donation, said a press release on Friday.
It is set to help WFP to provide lifesaving food to Rohingya refugees, and address the high rates of malnutrition among children and women.
“Two years on since the biggest influx of the Rohingya refugees to Bangladesh, the situation in the camps in Cox’s Bazar still remains critical,” said Richard Ragan.
He said 80% of nearly one million refugees depend entirely on WFP’s food assistance.
“This timely funding from the EU will help us to support the most vulnerable Rohingya members. Part of it is also set to assist our disaster preparedness work in the rehabilitation camps.”
The Rohingyas have been facing heightened risks during the current monsoon season. Some of the camps are already flooded and threatened with landslides.
The new EU contribution is set to ensure that refugee needs are met during this challenging time, said the press statement.
In 2018, the EU provided €12 million to help WFP in order to respond to the urgent needs of the most vulnerable Rohingya refugees, which played a major role in enabling WFP’s continuing transition from in-kind food distribution to an electronic voucher system.
Currently half of all refugees receive food assistance through e-vouchers and by the early next year all refugees are set to be given food in the same manner.
EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said: “Through our collective efforts, we have saved many lives since the Rohingya crisis began over two years earlier.
“The challenge, however, is far from over as hundreds of thousands of Rohingya rely on humanitarian aid to survive.”
He also said: “This latest contribution from the European Union is a testament to our continued commitment to help those in need, ensuring that they continue to receive life-saving food assistance from our partner WFP while being protected from the monsoon effects.”
