Washington - The United States is increasing its humanitarian
aid to help Rohingya Muslims fleeing Myanmar for neighbouring
Bangladesh by 32 million dollars, the State Department said
Wednesday.
The aid will also be available for internally displaced people in
Myanmar's Rakhine state and brings the total US aid for those
impacted by the crisis to 95 million dollars this year.
A military crackdown in Rakhine has triggered the exodus of 421,000
Rohingya from Buddhist-majority Myanmar to Bangladesh since August
25, according to the UN.
The funds will be used for emergency shelter, food, healthcare,
water, hygiene and other needs for more than 400,000 displaced
people.
"It reflects the US commitment to help address the unprecedented
magnitude of suffering and urgent humanitarian needs of the Rohingya
people," the State Department said, lauding Bangladesh's generosity
in taking in refugees and providing aid.
The announcement was made on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly
in New York, where the crisis is among the pressing issues facing
world leaders.
The US called on all parties to allow humanitarian aid to reach those
in need and on other nations to contribute to aid efforts.