UNHCR, King Salman Centre sign deal to support Rohingyas
NTV Online
Cox’s Bazar: UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and KSRelief have signed a US$3 million agreement to provide emergency assistance to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
The agreement was signed on Thursday during a field visit by a high delegation from King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief) to the Rohingya refugee camps.
The agreement was signed by Dr Abdullah Al Rabeeah, Supervisor General of KSRelief, and Khaled Khalifa, UNHCR Regional Representative to the GCC Countries, and it wi0ll help secure much-needed emergency assistance for Rohingya refugees, reports the UNB.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Abdullah Al Rabeeah said since its establishment back in 2015, KSRelief has continued the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s long history of providing humanitarian assistance, and has closely cooperated with UNHCR by contributing US$45 million to date in response to a number of major displacement situations.
He said following the issuance of the Royal Directives to allocate US$20 million in response to the most recent Rohingya crisis, KSRelief has initiated a number of key projects and has worked closely in coordination with UNHCR and the government of Bangladesh to attend to the most urgent humanitarian needs of the Rohingya refugees.
‘UNHCR appreciates KSRelief’s kind and timely contribution particularly in light of the pressing need for emergency assistance for thousands of Rohingya refugees who have arrived to Bangladesh in search of refuge and safety. Support from our partners is needed now more than ever,’ said Khaled Khalifa, Regional Representative of UNHCR to the GCC countries.
‘With the rainy season a few weeks away, we are working around the clock to avoid a catastrophe that could threaten thousands of Rohingya refugee families in Bangladesh,’ he added.
It is estimated that nearly 150,000 refugees are living in areas that are at high risk of floods and/or landslides.
UNHCR and partners are accelerating their efforts to relocate these families to safer parts of the settlements and distribute shelter kits ahead of the rainy season.