Assistance For Rohingya People Living In Burma

ASSISTANCE FOR ROHINGYA PEOPLE LIVING IN BURMA

Australia will provide $3.2 million in humanitarian aid to the Rohingya people living in Burma's northern Rakhine State to improve their living conditions and provide them with better economic opportunities.

Australia is concerned about the deteriorating living conditions and increasing marginalisation of the Rohingya people in Burma and in refugee camps in Bangladesh.

Their already parlous situation has been exacerbated by poor rice harvests, the rising price of basic food items and enforced restrictions on their movements.

Australia remains committed to tackling these complex issues.
The humanitarian aid package I have announced today includes:
$1 million for food aid delivered through the World Food Programme
$1.2 million including for the delivery of basic health services through the United Nations
Development Programme
$1 million to improve rural livelihoods through CARE Australia.

Australia has supported the Rohingya people in Bangladesh and Burma for more than a decade.

This package builds on the $4 million in assistance Australia has already provided through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and takes Australia's total contribution to assist the Rohingya people to more than $8 million this financial year.

Australia's direct support for the immediate needs of vulnerable people in our region is complemented by our support for regional dialogue and cooperation, including through the Bali Process, the third Ministerial meeting of which I am attending today with Senator Chris Evans, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship and Mr Bob Debus, Minister for Home Affairs.


SOURCE: AusAID