Press Releases: Ongoing U.S. Humanitarian Assistance in Response to the Rakhine State Crisis, Burma
Media Note
The U.S. government has provided nearly $40 million in life-saving emergency assistance in direct response to the Rakhine State crisis since August 25. This brings the total U.S. humanitarian assistance in FY 2017 to displaced Burmese in Burma and the region to nearly $104 million.
U.S. assistance goes to our international organization partners on the ground, including the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the World Food Program (WFP), which help provide protection, emergency shelter, food and nutritional assistance, as well as health care and psychosocial support for the more than half a million displaced Burmese in Burma, Bangladesh, and the region.
We applaud the Government of Bangladesh’s generosity in responding to this severe humanitarian crisis and appreciate its continued efforts to ensure assistance reaches people in need.
We call for an immediate end of the violence in northern Rakhine State, and for the Burmese government to allow refugees to return home voluntarily, safely, and with dignity. We welcome Burma’s commitment to bringing long-term peace and stability to Rakhine State by implementing the recommendations of the Annan Commission report.
The United States also calls upon the Burmese government to allow for unhindered humanitarian access to people in Rakhine State, Burma, so we can more fully address pressing humanitarian needs. We also urge other donors to join us in providing additional humanitarian assistance for those affected by the crisis.
For further information, please contact PRM Press at PRMPress@state.gov.