New York, Sep 25 (V7N) – The United States has announced an additional $199 million in humanitarian aid to support Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh and neighboring regions.

Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Uzra Zeya, made this announcement at a Rohingya-focused event during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, as per a press release issued on Wednesday.

This new aid package consists of over $129 million from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and nearly $70 million from the US Department of State. The funding will address the urgent needs of more than 610,000 Rohingya refugees facing severe food insecurity.

USAID’s portion includes $78 million from the US Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation, which will be used to purchase, ship, and distribute around 52,200 tons of food commodities from American farmers to affected populations in Bangladesh.

In addition to food aid, the funding will support organizations such as the International Rescue Committee, Unicef, and the UN World Food Program in delivering vital nutrition, food, and protection services to both Rohingya refugees and the host communities in Cox’s Bazar.

Since the onset of the Rohingya crisis in 2017, the US government has contributed more than $2.5 billion to the regional response, with over $2.1 billion allocated to Bangladesh alone. The US continues to urge other international donors to close funding gaps and meet the needs of those impacted by the crisis.

Since August 25, 2017, Bangladesh has been hosting over one million forcibly displaced Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar, with the majority arriving after a military crackdown in Myanmar. The UN has labeled the events as a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing," while other rights groups have described it as "genocide."

Despite agreements with Myanmar to repatriate the Rohingyas, no refugees have returned home in the last seven years due to concerns over their safety and security in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.

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