EU reaffirms humanitarian commitment
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The European Union has reaffirmed its commitment to support humanitarian needs of conflict-affected populations in Rakhine, Kachin and Northern Shan states.
The initial humanitarian assistance provided in 2015 would amount to 15 million euros - including the support for refugee camps in Thailand, said Jean-Louis De Brouwer, the global Director of Operations for the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) after a three-day visit to Yangon, Rakhine State and Nay Pyi Taw.
In a statement, he said that despite transition and positive reforms, the United Nations shows that humanitarian needs have increased in some regions due to civil and inter-communal violence.
“We stand committed to contribute in addressing those needs in an impartial manner, by continued funding to our humanitarian partners who are providing lifesaving aid to the most vulnerable populations in those areas,” he said.
De Brouwer expressed concern about the prevailing ethnic segregation, and the deterioration of living conditions in camps in Rakhine.
“The absence of freedom of movement for the Rohingya minority is also of particular concern, as it has serious implications both on livelihood opportunities for members of the community, and on any potential for reconciliation”, he added.
The EU has been funding relief programmes in Myanmar for over 20 years, providing a total of 191 million euros worth of humanitarian assistance to victims of man-made and natural disasters. ECHO operations focused on channelling relief to people displaced by the Kachin conflict and those affected by the inter-communal violence which erupted in Rakhine State in 2012.
