Visiting World Bank vice president for South Asia Region Hartwig Schafer Thursday urged the global community to continue providing support to Bangladesh for helping the stranded Rohingya people.
On the last day of his week-long visit, he said: “Bangladesh has also ably coordinated humanitarian support and provided for basic needs. But the need is much larger.”
“The World Bank has mobilised close to half a billion dollars financing on grant terms to help Bangladesh deal with the crisis. The global community cannot afford to become distracted from this crisis and needs to provide more support,” Mr Schafer said.
After visiting the Rohingya camps at Cox’s Bazar, including the Kutupalong camp which is the world’s largest and most congested refugee camp, Mr Schafer praised the Bangladesh government and the people for their generous efforts that saved thousands of lives as the Rohingya fled violence in Myanmar.
The World Bank approved the first two operations of a series that totalled US$75 million in grants, including $13 million in grants from Canada.
These include a $50 million grant to help the Rohingya, especially women and children, receive much-needed health services, and a $25 million grant to help Rohingya children access learning opportunities until their safe return to Myanmar. Through existing projects, the WB is helping the local population.
The vice president also visited some projects including WB-funded Ghorasal power plant, met ministries and bureaucrats, civil society people, development partners working in Bangladesh during his week-long visit.
He is scheduled to depart Bangladesh on Friday morning.
