UN agency seeks $30M in food aid for Rohingya: Report

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) - The World Food Program (WFP) has appealed for humanitarian assistance for Rohingya Muslims inside and outside Myanmar, NHK reported on Monday.

“The situation for Rohingya is dire,” WFP’s Myanmar director Michael Dunford told NHK said, adding that $30 million is needed to support communities in Rakhine over six months.

“If we don't get that money, people will go hungry, malnutrition will increase,” he warned.

Dunford emphasized that ending the conflict is key to the return of Rohingya refugees, and called for strong diplomatic efforts and regional support for the cessation of the conflict.

His comments came after the UN human rights office warned on Friday that conditions for the Rohingya in Myanmar are deteriorating, calling for immediate action to end impunity and strengthen international support.

"As we near the passing of another year with no justice for the violence which started on 25 August 2017 in Myanmar, we are left to ask the question of when the enduring misery for these and ongoing crimes will end, particularly for the long-suffering Rohingya community," spokesperson Jeremy Laurence told reporters in Geneva on Friday.

"Ending impunity and ensuring the Rohingya's rights to security, citizenship, and equality are essential for breaking the cycle of violence," he added.

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled Myanmar since 2017 due to violent crackdowns by the military and armed groups. Most have sought refuge in Bangladesh, with some reaching Indonesia after dangerous sea journeys.