US praises Bangladesh’s ‘exemplary’ help for Rohingya

SM Najmus Sakib

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – Bangladesh’s response to the Rohingya crisis sets an example to the world, the U.S. ambassador to Dhaka said on Wednesday.

“It’s important for the hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshis who opened their hearts to host the refugees. It is important for the government of Bangladesh which opened its borders to provide a safe haven [for the Rohingya],” Earl Miller said in a video broadcast live on social media.

In his speech, Miller also highlighted the importance for the international donor community and NGOs working with the Bangladeshi government to address the ongoing crisis.

Expressing his great respect and appreciation for the generosity, compassion and humanity of Bangladesh’s government and people, he acclaimed: “Your response to this crisis has been an example to the world.”

Miller’s remarks came shortly after the U.S. Department of State announced a fresh fund of $127 million to provide humanitarian aid for the Rohingya and the host communities in Bangladesh.

The new fund brought the total U.S. support to more than $669 million since the outbreak of violence in August 2017. The majority of those funds -- more than $553 million -- is spent for programs inside Bangladesh, Miller said.

According to Amnesty International, more than 750,000 Rohingya refugees, mostly women and children, have fled Myanmar and crossed into Bangladesh after Myanmar forces launched a crackdown on the minority Muslim community in August 2017.

Since Aug. 25, 2017, nearly 24,000 Rohingya Muslims have been killed, more than 34,000 were thrown into fires and over 114,000 others were beaten by Myanmar’s state forces, according to a report by the Ontario International Development Agency (OIDA).

Some 18,000 Rohingya women and girls were raped by Myanmar’s army and police and over 115,000 Rohingya homes were burned down and 113,000 others vandalized, it added.