ADB approves $100M grant for Rohingya in Bangladesh

By SM Najmus Sakib

DHAKA, Bangladesh

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Friday approved a grant of $100 million -- the first half of an envisaged package totaling $200 million to help the displaced Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

The money was approved to develop basic infrastructure and services for the displaced Rohingya, who fled from Myanmar in face of military persecution since late August, 2016, ADB said in a press release.

Since Aug. 25, 2017, some 750,000 Rohingya -- mostly children and women -- have fled to bordering Bangladesh after Myanmar forces began a crackdown on the minority Muslim community, according to Amnesty International.

At least 9,400 Rohingya were killed in Myanmar's Rakhine state from Aug. 25 to Sept. 24, 2017, according to Doctors Without Borders.

In a report published last December, the global humanitarian group said the deaths of 71.7 percent or 6,700 Rohingya were caused by violence. They include 730 children below the age of 5.

“Given the scale of the humanitarian needs, we are coordinating closely and promptly with World Bank and other development partners to support the government in addressing the crisis in Cox’s Bazar,” said ADB President Takehiko Nakao.

“With the principle of putting people first, ADB’s project in this first phase will seek to provide basic infrastructure and services that will ease vulnerabilities and risk of hunger, disease, and disaster,” he added.

Nakao earlier received a request from the Bangladeshi Finance Minister AMA Muhith for the grant when they met in May this year.

The grant will support the displaced people sheltered in camps in the Ukhia and Teknaf upazilas of Cox’s Bazar focusing on water supply and sanitation, disaster risk management, energy, and roads.

The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.

The UN has documented mass gang rapes, killings -- including of infants and young children -- brutal beatings, and disappearances committed by security personnel. In a report, UN investigators said such violations may have constituted crimes against humanity.