US to allocate $89 million more to address Rohingya crisis: Miller

The US ambassador in Dhaka Earl Robert Miller said his country announced allocation of $89 million more to help both Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar.

"Today, we pledge a new contribution of more than $127 million, of which $89 million will go to programmes in Bangladesh, assisting both Rohingya refugees and host communities," the US ambassador on Wednesday said through Facebook live.

The new fund brings the total US contribution to more than $669 million since the beginning of Rohingya crisis in August 2017, he added. 

Earlier on Wednesday, the US announced at the ongoing UN General Assembly in New York about the fund allocation to help Bangladesh address the Rohingya crisis.

Miller also said the Bangladesh government, the United Nations and other donor countries like the US are working together to develop joint plans to ensure all affected populations, including the host communities, have access to quality services.

This new humanitarian assistance is just one way the US has partnered with Bangladesh over the years. Since 1971, the US has provided more than $7 billion in development assistance to Bangladesh, he further said.

Last year alone, the US through its civilian foreign aid and development assistance agency – USAID, provided over $219 million to improve the lives of the Bangladeshi people, he added.

The fund was provided for increasing food security and economic opportunities, improving access to education and healthcare, protecting the environment and boosting resilience to natural disasters in Bangladesh, he further added.

On Facebook live, the US ambassador applauded the generosity, compassion and humanity of Bangladesh government and its people, saying, "Your response to the Rohingya crisis has been an example to the world."