Myanmar: Canada provides additional humanitarian assistance for displaced persons in Bangladesh

From: Global Affairs Canada

News Release

September 15, 2017 - Ottawa, Canada - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, today announced a further $2.55 million in funding to help address the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar’s northern Rakhine state and its impact on neighbouring Bangladesh.

With more civilians expected to flee the violence and enter Bangladesh in the coming days and weeks, this new funding will help address life-saving needs of the displaced—particularly women and children, who account for 70% of those in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

In line with Canada’s new Feminist International Assistance Policy, the initiatives announced today will help address some of these challenges and improve the lives of the most vulnerable, particularly women and children. Funds provided by Canada will go toward programs that include:

  • the provision of therapeutic feeding for pregnant women and for children under five years old;
  • the provision of clinical care and psychosocial counselling for sexual and gender-based violence survivors;
  • the provision of emergency obstetric and newborn care; and
  • the establishment of child-friendly spaces.

The assistance will be provided by experienced humanitarian partners: the United Nations Population Fund, UNICEF and the World Food Programme.

Quotes

“Canada remains deeply concerned about the violence in Rakhine state and the displacement of more than 375,000 people into Bangladesh since late August. The support Canada is announcing today will help partners provide life-saving assistance to people fleeing violence. It will focus on sexual and reproductive health needs and help women and girls who have faced sexual and gender-based violence.

“We also urge the authorities in Myanmar to take measures to protect all civilians from the ongoing violence, and we call for the full, unimpeded resumption of humanitarian assistance activities for UN and international humanitarian organizations in Myanmar.”

- The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie

Quick Facts

  • To date in 2017, Canada has provided $6.63 million in humanitarian assistance funding to partners in Myanmar and Bangladesh to meet the needs of conflict-affected people, including the Rohingya.

  • Today’s announcement brings Canada’s total humanitarian response in 2017 to $9.18 million.

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Contacts

Marie-Emmanuelle Cadieux
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie
343-203-6238
marie-emmanuelle.cadieux@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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