UK announces further $36 million of funding to support Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh: UK statement at the UN General Assembly

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN High-level Conference on the Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar.

The United Kingdom commends Bangladesh for its generous hospitality in hosting Rohingya refugees since 2017.
Eight years on, the conflict in Myanmar continues.

Systematic blockages of aid and trade exacerbate needs, with malnutrition and food insecurity reaching emergency levels. 

In Rakhine, 1.5 million people are resorting to extreme coping measures.  

Without intervention, there is a real risk of famine. 

Sustained support for Rohingya and host communities in Bangladesh is urgently needed.

Today, the UK announced a further $36 million to support Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. 

This will focus on meeting the basic, urgent needs of refugees, including food, clean water, healthcare and protection services. 

The UK has provided a total of $596 million since 2017. We have also provided over $154 million to support communities in Rakhine State.

As well as funding the crisis response, the international community needs to do more to ensure stability in Rakhine. 

We need to create safe conditions for the Rohingya to be able to return. 

We call on all actors to ensure full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access. 

And all actors must cease violence against civilians, including airstrikes.

The UK will continue working with Bangladesh and other partners to support refugees. 

Our new funding includes support to give the Rohingya skills and tools they can use when they return and to reduce their reliance on aid.

Today's conference is an opportunity to maintain focus on the crisis in Rakhine and on dire funding needs in the refugee camps.

In a world with so many humanitarian crises, we must not allow the Rohingya crisis to be forgotten. 

As penholder in the Security Council, we will keep Myanmar on the international agenda. 

With the unprecedented scale of displacement into Bangladesh, we urge others to join us in increasing financial support and pushing for vital humanitarian access.