A world conference of international donors on emergency humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees is set to take place on October 22.
It is co-hosted by the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The goal of the virtual conference is to encourage various organizations to provide assistance to Rohingya refugees and asylum seekers.
The conference will run from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Washington time. The event will be held at the link www.rohingyaconference.org.
The US Embassy in Dhaka said in a statement on Thursday (October 15th).
The statement said there was a huge shortage of funding for international assistance to address the Rohingya crisis, which is less than half of the demand so far this year. The organizers of the conference will call on the international community to provide urgent funding to help refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced people in Myanmar.
The Rohingya refugee crisis began in August 2016. Since then help has come for them. But the World Conference will urge countries to increase their grants this year to more than the previous three years.
The United Nations has requested an additional 100 crore dollars this year to meet the humanitarian needs of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. But so far the amount is less than half of the demand. So there is a huge shortage of funding, which is deteriorating further due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The conference, to be held on October 22, will announce the formation of an emergency fund to help the vulnerable and displaced Rohingya people inside or outside of Myanmar. It is expected to provide assistance in providing emergency services to asylum seekers across South and Southeast Asia.
The conference will create an opportunity for joint organizers to emphasize the need for Rohingya refugees and other displaced people to return voluntarily, safely, honorably and permanently to their home countries or places of choice as a lasting solution to the ongoing crisis.
Deputy Secretary of United States Stephen Biegun said, "The United States is proud to remain committed to providing sustainable assistance to the Rohingya refugees and other displaced people in the face of the international crisis." Biegun further said, “We urge everyone, including the new donor countries, to provide funding."
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said, "The Rohingyas have been forced to flee their homes in the face of horrific atrocities and unimaginable misery. We have taken various measures, including sanctions against the perpetrators of well-planned violence and we will continue to hold them accountable for this crime. The whole world needs to wake up to their plight and unite to save lives."
European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janen Lenarsik said, "We are committed to moving forward with the call for more assistance in the current crisis. The concerted efforts of the international community must be intensified to reach a lasting solution by creating opportunities for voluntary, safe and dignified repatriation of Rohingya refugees."
"The message of solidarity with the Rohingya people is not just to meet their daily needs," said Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees. This means that refugees also have the right to a dignified life and a secure and stable future.