Flanders has approved a grant of 200.000 euros to the Red Cross Flanders. This in response to the increasing Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
Since August, there has been an escalation of violence in Rakhine, Myamar, which causes a huge stream of refugees in Bangladesh. More than 500.000 people, especially women and children, have already crossed the border.
One of the key humanitarian priorities is access to safe water and sanitation for newly arrived refugees. With the support of the government of Flanders, the Red Cross provides support to 3.000 fugitive families (15,000 people) in Bangladesh. These families are further supported with essential emergency services such as jerry cans, buckets and hygiene kits.
The Red Cross of Bangladesh has been working in the region for several years and has expanded its scope for refugee shelter. As part of the escalation, a call has been made within the Red Cross Movement to increase aid.
Here’s to watch the VRT broadcast about the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh (Only available in Dutch)