The United States has announced nearly $199 million in new assistance to support Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. The announcement was made by Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya during a high-level side event on the Rohingya crisis at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 24.
According to a press release from the US Department of State, this new funding includes almost $70 million from the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) and over $129 million from USAID. Of the USAID allocation, $78 million will come from the Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation, which will be used to purchase, ship, and distribute food from American farmers to Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh.
The aid is aimed at providing life-saving support, including food, shelter, and protection for those displaced by violence and persecution. The funds will also be directed towards disaster preparedness, educational access, skills training, and helping refugees prepare for a possible return to their homeland when conditions are safe.
Since the onset of the Rohingya crisis in August 2017, the US government has provided over $2.5 billion in aid for the regional response, with more than $2.1 billion allocated to Bangladesh. Of this amount, nearly $1.3 billion was contributed through PRM.
“The United States remains committed to assisting crisis-affected communities in Bangladesh and the region and urges other donors to maintain their support,” the press release concluded.
