The UNHCR has sought US$294.5 million for its Rohingya refugee response in Bangladesh for 2021.
“US$5.9 million of the total funds is urgently needed to address the immediate aftermath of the catastrophic fire that affected so many Rohingya refugees,” the UN refugee agency said in a media statement Wednesday.
“UNHCR’s operation in Bangladesh is only 20 per cent funded. Additional support is urgently needed. UNHCR is asking government and private sector donors to keep their contributions flexible, thus allowing their use across the overall operation,” it read.
An estimated 48,000 Rohingya refugees have lost their shelters and belongings in the blaze which devastated parts of the Kutupalong-Balukhali refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar on March 22. Sheltering more than 600,000 refugees, this is the largest refugee camp in the world.
The fire has destroyed more than 9,500 shelters. Refugees who lost their shelters are being temporarily accommodated within the camp.
The fire has also reduced to ashes more than 1,600 important infrastructure facilities vital for daily operations, including hospitals, learning centres, aid distribution points and a registration centre.
In addition to thousands of relief items, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has also provided medical supplies to partners and to support IOM in the affected areas. So far, UNHCR partners have provided psychosocial support to more than 4,000 affected refugees.
“We are also working to address the critical needs of separated children. Since the fire, together with our partners, we’ve identified more than 600 separated girls and boys who have been reunited with their families,” it continued.
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