US announces over $116 million in humanitarian assistance to support vulnerable populations in Bangladesh and Myanmar

The United States will provide more than $116 million in additional humanitarian assistance to support vulnerable populations in Bangladesh, Myanmar and the region, including more than $74 million to support Rohingyas and their host communities.

With this new funding, the United States' total assistance for those affected by the crisis in Myanmar, Bangladesh, and the region totals more than $2.2 billion since August 2017, when over 740,000 Rohingya fled genocide, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing in Myanmar's Rakhine State for safety in Bangladesh, according to a press statement of the US Department of State.

"This funding provides life-sustaining support to nearly 1 million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, many of them survivors of a campaign of genocide, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing, and 540,000 members of Bangladeshi communities that generously host Rohingya refugees," the statement reads.

This assistance includes safe drinking water, health care, protection, education, shelter, and psychosocial support.

"The United States recognises the generosity of the government and people of Bangladesh and other Rohingya-hosting countries in the region and urges other donors to contribute to the humanitarian response in Bangladesh, increase support to those driven from and affected by violence in Myanmar, and work towards lasting solutions to the refugee crisis," the statement further read.

In an X post, US Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Uzra Zeya wrote more than $74 million of this allocation will strengthen US government partners, enabling them to provide vital support like shelter, clean water, healthcare, and other critical aid to Rohingya refugees and the accommodating host communities.