United States to Provide Additional Humanitarian Assistance to People in Burma, Bangladesh, and the Region

Today, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya met with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and announced more than $74 million in additional U.S. humanitarian assistance to support humanitarian responses in the region, including nearly $61 million to support Rohingya internally displaced in Burma as well as Rohingya refugees and their host communities in Bangladesh.

With this new funding, total U.S. humanitarian assistance for Rohingya and other persons affected by ongoing violence across Burma reaches more than $2.1 billion since August 2017, after which 740,000 Rohingya fled genocide, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing in Burma’s Rakhine State for safety in Bangladesh.

In Bangladesh, this new humanitarian assistance will provide life-sustaining support to the nearly 980,000 Rohingya refugees, many of whom are survivors of genocide, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing, and 540,000 generous host community members.  It will enable the provision of food, safe drinking water, health care, protection, education, shelter, and psychosocial support.  In Burma, the funding will assist in meeting the critical humanitarian needs of IDPs and other vulnerable groups, including for Rohingya and other conflict-affected populations in Rakhine State as well as for those in newly emerged conflict areas since the February 2021 military coup.  We urge other donors to contribute robustly to the humanitarian response and increase support to those driven from and affected by the ongoing crisis in Burma.

The United States applauds the generosity of the government and people of Bangladesh and other Rohingya-hosting countries in the region.  The United States is seriously concerned about the military regime’s escalating violence in Burma.  We remain committed to finding lasting solutions to the crisis, including the safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable return and reintegration of displaced Rohingya when conditions in Burma allow.  We commend our humanitarian partners, including the many Rohingya volunteers, for the lifesaving work they continue to do every day.

For further information, please contact PRM at prm-pressofficers@state.gov.