Vietnam offers support to WFP for Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam has offered $50,000 to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), in Bangladesh, to support the Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar.

The intended contribution was announced by Special Envoy of Prime Minister of Vietnam and Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nguyen Quoc Dzung, during a visit to Bangladesh, WFP wrote in a statement issued on Thursday.

“We are very grateful to Vietnam for stepping up to assist people living in the Cox’s Bazar refugee camps,” Richard Ragan, WFP representative and country director, said. 

Ragan said: “This remains a serious humanitarian emergency, and continued support from the international community is vital if we are to keep providing the humanitarian assistance that is so badly needed.”

“Although this is a modest contribution, we are hopeful that our support will advance the response to this crisis situation,” he added

This is Vietnam’s first contribution to WFP operations in Bangladesh. They join dozens of other states who have pledged their support for the Cox’s Bazar response, since the August 2017 refugee influx.

In Cox’s Bazar, the WFP provides food assistance to more than 870,000 refugees per month. The WFP also supports nutrition and livelihoods interventions in the host community, supporting the most vulnerable people. Sustained support from the international community is necessary to continue WFP operations in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is now hosting nearly 1.3 million Rohingyas. The majority of them—more than 620,000 people—live in Kutupalong; currently the largest refugee settlement anywhere in the world.