Minister Bibeau announces final tally for Myanmar Crisis Relief Fund
News Release
December 13, 2017 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
The crisis in Myanmar has resulted in the influx of an additional 600,000 Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh since August 25, 2017, the majority of them women and children. This has triggered a humanitarian emergency on such a scale that concerted international action is urgently required.
The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, today announced the final tally for the Myanmar Crisis Relief Fund, a fund established to help address the world’s fastest-growing refugee and humanitarian crisis.
Between August 25 and November 28, 2017, Canadians generously donated more than $12.5 million to registered charities to assist the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people affected by the violence in Myanmar, the majority of whom are women and children.
Canada’s equivalent contribution of $12.55 million will be allocated to experienced humanitarian partners providing life-saving and gender-sensitive humanitarian assistance to those who are living in camps and settlements in Bangladesh or are displaced within Myanmar. This brings Canada’s overall humanitarian response to this crisis to more than $37.5 million and strengthens Canada’s position as one of the top donors in this humanitarian response.
Canada has adopted a Feminist International Assistance Policy, which supports gender-responsive humanitarian action. This approach better addresses the unique needs of women and girls in a humanitarian crisis.
As such, Canada’s contribution to the Myanmar Crisis Relief Fund will be allocated to address the gender-specific needs of women and girls in humanitarian settings, including survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, pregnant and nursing women, and woman-headed households. Canada’s response will also include sexual and reproductive health services, as well as psychosocial counselling.
Quotes
“Canadians continue to show themselves to be generous and compassionate people. Their contributions will help our partners respond to the increasing humanitarian needs in Myanmar and Bangladesh with a strong focus on meeting the particular needs of women and girls, who have faced the greatest impact of this crisis.
I have seen first-hand what our support for humanitarian partners can do for those in affected communities, who need it most. We thank Canadians, both here and in the Myanmar-Bangladesh crisis region, for being a part of these efforts.”
- Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie
Quick Facts
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The funding announced today is in addition to the more than $25 million in humanitarian assistance already committed in Bangladesh and Myanmar since the beginning of 2017.
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Since August 25, 2017, more than 625,000 Rohingya, mainly women and children, have fled to Bangladesh to escape violence in Myanmar. This is in addition to an estimated 300,000 Rohingya who had previously sought refuge in Bangladesh in previous waves of displacement.
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On October 23, 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named Bob Rae as his special envoy to Myanmar. Mr. Rae’s role is to reinforce efforts to resolve the humanitarian and security crisis in Myanmar and to address the situation affecting vulnerable populations.
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In November 2017, Minister Bibeau visited refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, where she met with survivors of gender-based violence, unaccompanied children and new mothers, as well as representatives of key humanitarian organizations.
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Marie-Emmanuelle Cadieux
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie
343-203-6238
marie-emmanuelle.cadieux@international.gc.ca
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Global Affairs Canada
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media@international.gc.ca
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