ASEAN urged to set up fund for Rohingya
Worsening food crisis, lack of educational opportunities in Bangladesh refugee camps pose serious threat to regional stability
JAKARTA, Indonesia (MNTV) – ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) has issued an urgent call for collective action from ASEAN countries, including the establishment of a humanitarian fund to address the severe needs of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, reports the Daily Observer.
It chartered three-point demands including immediate establishment of an ASEAN humanitarian fund, ensuring access to recognised education and vocational training for Rohingya children and adolescents, and working in close partnership with Bangladesh and the international community to find a sustainable solution to the crisis.
APHR has warned that the escalating food crisis and the lack of educational opportunities in the camps have already created a serious threat to regional stability.
More than a million refugees in Cox’s Bazar have been dependent on this life-saving assistance for years.
“The organisation has had growing concerns that if ASEAN continues to remain passive, illegal activities-including human trafficking, arms, and drug smuggling will have had a destabilising effect on the entire region,” co-chair of the APHR and former Member of Parliament of Malaysia, Charles Santiago said.
“Rohingya are from Myanmar and since Myanmar is an ASEAN state, ASEAN Member States have an obligation with the international community, to provide sufficient food aid to the refugee camps who will soon be at risk of mass starvation,” he added.
According to the World Food Program, by the end of November, there will be significantly less budget for the food rations program due to deep USAID cuts.
“A sum of $17 million per month is needed to sustain 1.3 million in the camps,” Wong Chen, a Member of the board of APHR and Malaysian parliamentarian, said.
APHR member, Raoul Manuel said, “Rohingya youth cannot remain trapped without access to accredited education and relevant skills training.”
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