LOC17:06
14:06 GMT
WASHINGTON, Sept 20 (KUNA) -- The US is providing an additional USD 32 million in humanitarian assistance to address "the urgent needs of Rohingyas fleeing violence" from Myanmar to Bangladesh, the State Department announced Wednesday.
The new sum brings US humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons and refugees in Myanmar's Rakhine state to nearly USD 95 million thus far, reflecting "US commitment to help address the unprecedented magnitude of suffering and urgent humanitarian needs of the Rohingya people," read a statement by the US State Department.
"We applaud the government of Bangladesh's generosity in responding to this severe humanitarian crisis and appreciate their continued efforts to ensure assistance reaches people in need," the statement noted.
The rapid influx of hundreds of thousands of refugees has strained resources and overwhelmed humanitarian agencies and local authorities, it said.
Through this support, the US will help provide emergency shelter, food security, nutritional assistance, health assistance, psycho-social support, water, sanitation, livelihoods, social inclusion, non-food items, disaster and crisis risk reduction.
The aid will also be instrumental in restoring family links and protecting more than 400,000 displaced persons in Myanmar and Bangladesh, it highlighted.
"The United States calls upon all parties to allow for unfettered humanitarian access to people in Rakhine State, Myanmar and we also encourage other donors to join us in providing additional humanitarian assistance for those affected by the crisis," it said. (end)
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