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IntroductionMyanmar/Burma is the country with the highest risk of humanitarian crises in northand south east Asia, and ranks 12th worldwide (http://www.inform-index.org/). Formore than half a century, a series of internal conflicts has affected a great number ofcivilians. More than 300 000 people currently live in displacement with limited accessto basic services. Restricted humanitarian access to certain areas hampers the abilityof international aid organisations to provide crucial assistance to people in need.Recurrent natural hazards also increase the vulnerability of residents in disaster-proneareas.
What are the needs?
European Civil Protection and HumanitarianAid Operations
Occasional flare-ups of violence, involving fighting between ethnic groups and thearmy, and their subsequent tensions have marred different parts of Myanmar/Burma.The United Nations estimates that more than half a million people in the country arecurrently in need of humanitarian assistance, including those displaced in the conflict-torn states of Rakhine, Kachin and Shan. In Rakhine state, more than 1 000 000people from the minority Rohingya Muslim(http://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/aid/countries/factsheets/rohingya_en.pdf) communityare also stateless and deprived of basic rights, including freedom of movement. Inter-ethnic clashes in 2012, have resulted in some 120 000 people internally displaced,living in camps and entirely dependent on international aid. A deadly assault byRohingya insurgents on multiple police posts in northern Rakhine on 25th Augusttriggered a new cycle of violence, prompting more than 530 000 civilians to fleeacross the border into Bangladesh over the course of a month. The latest clashescome less than one year after a previous assault by insurgents on three border guardposts on 9th October 2016 sparked a series of violent incidents and militaryoperations that saw more than 87 000 Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh in search ofrefuge. In Kachin and Shan states, prolonged armed conflicts have also taken a heavytoll on the local population. To date, some 98 000 people remain displaced followingclashes between armed groups and security forces.
The European Union, through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operationsdepartment, has been operational in Myanmar/Burma since 1994. It has fundedemergency relief programmes to assist victims of both conflict and natural disasters,with the total funding amount reaching nearly €230 million. This figure includes anallocation of €9.7 million for 2017. Since 2013 a total of €2 650 000 have also beenprovided for emergency education to conflict-affected children in the framework of theEU Children of Peace (http://ec.europa.eu/echo/what/humanitarian-aid/children-of-peace_en).
In Rakhine state, the European Commission has been working for many years with itshumanitarian partners to address protection, food, nutrition and health needs of themost vulnerable people, particularly in the northern townships. Following theoutbreaks of violence in June 2012 and October 2016, which resulted in large-scaledisplacements of populations, the Commission extended its humanitarian aid to alldisplaced people in need; the Commission remains committed to doing the same forthe victims of the August 2017 violence, for which humanitarian access is urgentlyrequired. Sectors of intervention include shelter, food and non-food items, nutrition,health care, water and sanitation, livelihoods support, coordination, education andprotection.
The Commission is also providing humanitarian aid to those displaced by theKachin/northern Shan state conflict and living in camps. Along the eastern border, theEU has contributed to mine awareness projects and to the rehabilitation needs ofvictims of anti-personnel mines as well as supporting the Myanmar IndigenousNetwork for Education.
The European Union has also responded to a number of natural disasters inMyanmar/Burma over the past two decades. Most recently, in late May, when CycloneMora wreaked havoc across several areas along the country’s western coast, withRakhine state being the hardest hit, the Commission immediately allocated €500 000to provide emergency relief assistance to the affected communities.
Another priority of the EU in Myanmar/Burma is disaster risk reduction(https://ec.europa.eu/echo/what/humanitarian-aid/risk-reduction_en), to increasethe resilience of the most vulnerable communities facing recurrent natural hazards. Inline with the European Union's international commitments, the EU ensures that all itsrelevant actions lead to the reduction of disaster risks and to the improvement of
stylianides-visits-bangladesh-and-reaffirms-eu-humanitarian_en)Rohingya Crisis: CommissionerStylianides visits Bangladesh andreaffirms EU humanitarian support(/echo/news/rohingya-crisis-commissioner-stylianides-visits-bangladesh-and-reaffirms-eu-humanitarian_en)31/10/2017
(/echo/news/eu-pledges-additional-30-million-
rohingya-crisis-geneva-donors-conference_en)The EU pledges additional €30million for the Rohingya crisis atGeneva donors' conference(/echo/news/eu-pledges-additional-30-million-rohingya-crisis-geneva-donors-conference_en)23/10/2017
communities' resources for better preparedness to natural disasters. In this context,€9.65 million have been allocated between 2010 and 2017 for coastal flood-proneareas and urban earthquake risks measures, particularly in the financial capital ofYangon.
bangladesh-and-myanmar_en)EU steps up humanitarianassistance in Bangladesh andMyanmar (/echo/news/eu-steps-humanitarian-assistance-bangladesh-and-myanmar_en)12/09/2017
FACTS & FIGURES525 000 people in need of assistance(UN OCHA HRP 2017)
120 000 internally displaced persons(IDPs) in Rakhine
98 000 IDPs in Kachin and northernShan states:
EU humanitarian funding:Close to €230 million since 1994
IntroductionMyanmar/Burma is the country with the highest risk of humanitarian crises in north and south east Asia, and ranks 12thworldwide. For more than half a century, a series of internal conflicts has affected a great number of civilians. More than300 000 people currently live in displacement with limited access to basic services. Restricted humanitarian access tocertain areas hampers the ability of international aid organisations to provide crucial assistance to people in need.Recurrent natural hazards also increase the vulnerability of residents in disaster-prone areas.
What are the needs?Occasional flare-ups of violence, involving fighting between ethnic groups and the army, and their subsequent tensionshave marred different parts of Myanmar/Burma. The United Nations estimates that more than half a million people in thecountry are currently in need of humanitarian assistance, including those displaced in the conflict-torn states of Rakhine,Kachin and Shan. In Rakhine state, more than 1 000 000 people from the minority Rohingya Muslim community are alsostateless and deprived of basic rights, including freedom of movement. Inter-ethnic clashes in 2012, have resulted in some120 000 people internally displaced, living in camps and entirely dependent on international aid. A deadly assault byRohingya insurgents on multiple police posts in northern Rakhine on 25th August triggered a new cycle of violence,prompting more than 530 000 civilians to flee across the border into Bangladesh over the course of a month. The latestclashes come less than one year after a previous assault by insurgents on three border guard posts on 9th October 2016sparked a series of violent incidents and military operations that saw more than 87 000 Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh insearch of refuge. In Kachin and Shan states, prolonged armed conflicts have also taken a heavy toll on the localpopulation. To date, some 98 000 people remain displaced following clashes between armed groups and security forces.
How are we helping?The European Union, through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department, has been operational inMyanmar/Burma since 1994. It has funded emergency relief programmes to assist victims of both conflict and naturaldisasters, with the total funding amount reaching nearly €230 million. This figure includes an allocation of €9.7 million for2017. Since 2013 a total of €2 650 000 have also been provided for emergency education to conflict-affected childrenin the framework of the EU Children of Peace.
In Rakhine state, the European Commission has been working for many years with its humanitarian partners to addressprotection, food, nutrition and health needs of the most vulnerable people, particularly in the northern townships. Followingthe outbreaks of violence in June 2012 and October 2016, which resulted in large-scale displacements of populations, theCommission extended its humanitarian aid to all displaced people in need; the Commission remains committed to doingthe same for the victims of the August 2017 violence, for which humanitarian access is urgently required. Sectors ofintervention include shelter, food and non-food items, nutrition, health care, water and sanitation, livelihoods support,coordination, education and protection.
The Commission is also providing humanitarian aid to those displaced by the Kachin/northern Shan state conflict and livingin camps. Along the eastern border, the EU has contributed to mine awareness projects and to the rehabilitation needs ofvictims of anti-personnel mines as well as supporting the Myanmar Indigenous Network for Education.
The European Union has also responded to a number of natural disasters in Myanmar/Burma over the past two decades.Most recently, in late May, when Cyclone Mora wreaked havoc across several areas along the country’s western coast, withRakhine state being the hardest hit, the Commission immediately allocated €500 000 to provide emergency reliefassistance to the affected communities.
Another priority of the EU in Myanmar/Burma is disaster risk reduction, to increase the resilience of the most vulnerablecommunities facing recurrent natural hazards. In line with the European Union's international commitments, the EU ensuresthat all its relevant actions lead to the reduction of disaster risks and to the improvement of communities' resources forbetter preparedness to natural disasters. In this context, €9.65 million have been allocated between 2010 and 2017 forcoastal flood-prone areas and urban earthquake risks measures, particularly in the financial capital of Yangon.
European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations - B-1049 Brussels, Belgium - E-mail: [email protected]
The Rohingya crisis is a human rights crisis with serious humanitarian consequences. In Myanmar/Burma, the Rohingya have very limited access to basic services and viable livelihood opportunities due to strict movement restrictions and denied citizenship rights. This has rendered them one of the largest stateless populations in the world.
The crisis has a wider regional dimension, with record numbers of
Rohingya fleeing to neighbouring countries. Following violent incidents in Northern Rakhine in August 2017, over 530 000 Rohingyas have fled across the border into Bangladesh; during the previous year, some 87 000 people had already fled after the October 2016 security incidents.
Since 2010, The EU has provided more than € 76.5 million in
humanitarian aid to vulnerable people in Rakhine state, including in the more isolated northern areas. In 2017, the EU is funding projects throughout Myanmar’s Rakhine State to address some of the most urgent needs, including food and nutrition, basic health services, water, sanitation, protection and shelter for affected communities displaced by outbreaks of
violence in 2012 and 2016.
The European Commission has also been providing significant funding for life-saving assistance to the unregistered Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh in Cox’s Bazar district through international NGOs and the UN. Since 2007, close to € 43 million have been allocated for basic health care, water, sanitation, shelter, nutrition, protection and psychological support, including
Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides ison a two-day visit to Bangladesh, to assess the situation on the ground and visit EUaid projects that are addressing the Rohingya refugee crisis. His visit comes a weekafter the EU and its Member States pledged more than 50% of the USD 344 milliontotal funding raised at an international conference on the Rohingya refugee crisis heldin Geneva, Switzerland.
"Here in Bangladesh the scale of this emergency is painfully clear to see; this is thefastest-growing refugee crisis in the world. The EU has decisively stepped up its aid toRohingya communities. The Rohingya people are not alone in these difficult times. We
European Civil Protection and HumanitarianAid Operations
English (en)
1/20/2018 Rohingya Crisis: Commissioner Stylianides visits Bangladesh and reaffirms EU humanitarian support - European Commission
commend and support the generous approach of the Bangladeshi authorities. At thesame time, the European Union continues to insist on full aid access in Myanmar andis working to address the situation in Northern Rakhine State. Beyond aid, it is crucialthat every refugee is registered properly and that Myanmar takes all necessary stepsto allow them a voluntary and dignified return in secure conditions." saidCommissioner Stylianides.
Today Commissioner Stylianides visits the Kutupalong camp in the Cox's Bazar area,where an EU-funded project is helping over 100 000 people, mostly children andwomen, to gain access to essential services.
The Commissioner will also hold meetings with Bangladesh government officials andhumanitarian partners to discuss the international community's response to the crisisand Bangladesh's needs moving forward.
The visit follows that of the Commissioner to Myanmar in May earlier this year.
BackgroundOn 23 October, the European Union co-hosted the Pledging Conference on theRohingya Refugee Crisis in Geneva. The conference was co-hosted with Kuwait, inpartnership with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs(OCHA), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN RefugeeAgency (UNHCR). International donors announced pledges for more than USD 344million to urgently scale up the delivery of critical humanitarian assistance to bothRohingya and host communities in Bangladesh.
With a pledge of €30 million from the EU budget on 23 October, the total Commissionsupport to the Rohingya and their host communities in Bangladesh and Myanmaramounts to €51 million for 2017.
The European Union has been funding humanitarian programmes in Cox’s Bazar since1994 through international NGOs and the UN. Since 2007, the EU has allocated over€163 million to Bangladesh; of which close to €43 million has been allocated for basichealth care, water, sanitation, shelter, nutrition, protection and psychological supportto the Rohingya.
1/20/2018 Rohingya Crisis: Commissioner Stylianides visits Bangladesh and reaffirms EU humanitarian support - European Commission
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Since 2010, the EU has provided more than €76.5 million in humanitarian aid toMyanmar to help vulnerable people in Rakhine state, including in the more isolatednorthern areas, a region where Christos Stylianides became the first EuropeanCommissioner to visit earlier this May.
In 2017, the EU is funding projects throughout Myanmar's Rakhine state to addresssome of the most urgent needs, including food and nutrition, basic health services,water, sanitation, protection and shelter for affected communities displaced byoutbreaks of violence in 2012 and 2016.
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The European Union today co-hosted in Geneva a 'Pledging Conference on theRohingya Refugee Crisis' (https://www.unocha.org/rohingya-refugee-crisis/rohingya-refugee-crisis-pledging-conference). The Commissioner forHumanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides has announced theEU's contribution of an additional €30 million for the Rohingya communities inBangladesh. This comes on the top of over €21 million in overall EU assistancealready allocated to Rohingya and host communities in both Bangladesh andMyanmar, bringing the total EU support for this year to over €51 million.
European Civil Protection and HumanitarianAid Operations
"Today, we stand united for the right cause. The cause of stateless people whohave suffered for too long: the Rohingya. The Rohingya deserve nothing less thanevery other human being in the world. They deserve a future. We have a moralduty to give these people hope. Our humanitarian support will work to provideessentials like water, sanitation, food, healthcare, protection, and education", saidCommissioner Stylianides.
Commissioner for International Cooperation and DevelopmentNeven Mimica said: "Beyond the immediate response, we need to think of long-term solutions for Rohingya and host populations alike. Whilst the focus shouldremain on creating an enabling environment for safe and dignified voluntary returnsof Rohingya to Myanmar, we need to also ensure that local communities, who arealready facing enormous challenges, are not left behind and that we provide themmedium and long-term development assistance. Any solution has to inevitablyinclude political dialogue with all parties involved."
Commissioner Stylianides will travel to Bangladesh next week to meet withRohingya refugees and visit EU aid projects in the affected areas.
Background
The European Union is co-hosting the Pledging Conference on the Rohingya RefugeeCrisis, with Kuwait, in Geneva on 23 October, in partnership with the United NationsOffice for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the InternationalOrganisation for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
Of the €30 million announced at the pledging conference €5 million are allocated foremergency humanitarian aid to meet the most urgent needs of the Rohingyapopulation and host communities in Bangladesh; another €5 million to support theregistration of arriving Rohingya and a total of €20 million to support early recoveryand development actions in the country.
Registration of the Rohingya in line with international standards will enable to bettertarget support, help ensure protection rights and facilitate return when conditionsallow.
According to latest estimates, around 600 000 Rohingya have fled from Myanmar toBangladesh during the past two months, since the exodus began on 25 Augustfollowing the latest spate of violence. This brings the total number of Rohingya in
1/20/2018 The EU pledges additional €30 million for the Rohingya crisis at Geneva donors' conference - European Commission
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the Cox's Bazar area in Bangladesh to about 900 000.
Humanitarian aid projects, including EU-funded, are severely limited during the lastweeks due to restricted humanitarian access in Myanmar's Rakhine State.
The European Union has been funding humanitarian programmes in Cox's Bazarsince 1994 through international NGOs and the UN. Since 2007, the EU hasallocated about €157 million to Bangladesh; of which close to €38 million has beenallocated for basic health care, water, sanitation, shelter, nutrition, protection andpsychological support to the Rohingya.
In Myanmar the EU has provided since 2010 more than €76.5 million inhumanitarian aid to vulnerable people in Rakhine state, including in the moreisolated northern areas which Christos Stylianides became the first EuropeanCommissioner to ever visit, earlier this May. In 2017, the EU is funding projectsthroughout Myanmar's Rakhine State to address some of the most urgent needs,including food and nutrition, basic health services, water, sanitation, protection andshelter for affected communities displaced by outbreaks of violence in 2012 and2016.
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