The delegation of a partnership mission on Monday urged the international community to fill the funding requirement the Rohingya, saying the gap would threaten the livelihoods of thousands of refugees staying in Bangladesh.
The funding requirement under Joint Response Plan (JRP) is US$920 million.
The delegation of the Partnership Mission, comprising representatives of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Turkey, the UAE and European Union, made the call at a press briefing in the city.
"We got only 64 per cent of the 2018 requirement and the JRP for 2019 which was announced in February has received only 14 per cent so far," Khaled Khalifa, UNHCR Regional Representative to the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, told the briefing.
Responding to a question, he said the allegation regarding the lavish expenses for the field staffers engaged in humanitarian response is "baseless".
Ambassador of Kuwait in Bangladesh told the briefing that the pressure should be mounted on Myanmar to expedite the repatriation of the Rohingya to their homeland.
He said that Kuwait was providing assistance to the Rohingya in various ways and extended its total support to Bangladesh to resolve the crisis.
Dr Salah Fahad Al Mazroa, representative from Saudi Arabia, said that the allegation that the Rohingya were deported from Saudi Arabia is 'not true at all'.
"We have received 300 Rohingya and provided them with the status of visitor. We are committed to continuing our humanitarian assistance to our Rohingya brothers" he said.
European Commission director Androulla Kaminara said the funding for the Rohingya is meant to support the host community also.
"The assistance provided to the Rohingya is being spent by them to purchase food and non-food items from the local traders and thus it also helps the local community," she said.
Responding to a question she mentioned that as the refugee crisis tends to be protracted preparations should be there so that in case of the prolonged Rohigya crisis, the livelihood of them would not be affected.
The partnership Mission, which was organised by the UNHCR to support the JRP fund, wrapped up its five-day visit on Monday.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
