The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) agreed to boost Rohingya response in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, through a $2.5-million agreement earlier this week.
Over 1.3 million Rohingya refugees are currently living in poor conditions in Cox’s Bazar after escaping from the Myanmar military’s crackdown against the minority group.
The new deal will ensure that the refugees will have access to safe and proper water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services.
IOM and KSrelief are expected to upgrade existing solar-powered water networks, improve faecal sludge collection, and fix latrines and bathing facilities in Cox’s Bazar.
“By strengthening essential water and sanitation infrastructure and introducing environmentally effective waste management, the project will help in protecting public health and improve daily living conditions within the Rohingya Refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar,” KSrelief official Eng. Ahmed bin Ali Al-Baiz said in a statement.
Vital support
The $2.5-million agreement is also vital for the Rohingya refugees since they are facing extreme aid cuts in the following months despite their poor living conditions.
The United Nations and Bangladesh recently appealed for $710.5 million in funding to help ensure that the urgent needs are provided to the affected refugees.
However, recent global issues and humanitarian crises forced several countries to cut their aid for the Rohingya refugees.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Babar Baloch also stressed last month that huge reductions in humanitarian support put the refugees at more risk in the following months.
“The generous support from Bangladesh and the international community has been critical in meeting their basic needs and providing protection,” Baloch added in a statement.
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Bangladesh pushes for return of Rohingyas
Amid recent aid cuts for the refugees, Bangladesh also appealed to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to push for the return of Rohingyas to Myanmar this week.
Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman stressed at the ASEAN Regional Forum that a sustainable solution is needed to resolve the growing Rohingya refugee crisis.
“The Rohingya are not stateless people by circumstance – they are stateless by design. It is a political failure demanding a political solution,” Rahman said, according to Anadolu Agency.
The foreign minister also pointed out that the prolonged stay of Rohingyas in Bangladesh triggered more reports of transborder crime, including drug trade and human trafficking.
Rahman said that Bangladesh remains open for dialogue for the “safe and voluntary” return of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar.
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