Government of Canada Supports World Renew’s Response to the Rohingya Crisis

The Canadian Government has approved its support of a $1 million joint response to the Rohingya Crisis in Bangladesh through Canadian Foodgrains Bank, led by World Renew and Emergency Relief and Development Overseas (ERDO).

These two projects are generously supported by the wider membership of Canadian Foodgrains Bank to respond to the needs of newly arriving Rohingya in informal settlements in Bangladesh. The response will be implemented in collaboration with local partners.

The situation being addressed is beyond dire. Over half a million Rohingya have fled extreme violence in Myanmar in search of safety and freedom. Entire villages have been destroyed. More Rohingyas are arriving in Bangladesh every day. Nearly sixty percent of them are children.

“The Rohingya people have experienced incredible trauma in recent weeks as they flee from Myanmar,” says Ken Kim, Director of Disaster Response and Rehabilitation at World Renew.

“The accounts of those interviewed are harrowing. Many have walked for over ten days with nothing in search of safety in Bangladesh. They are exhausted, hungry and in desperate need of basic support.”

“There are many, many needs, food being the foremost.”

Harry and Annie Bergshoeff, International Relief Managers for World Renew on assignment in Bangladesh, blogged: “There are many, many needs, food being the foremost. There are thousands of extremely vulnerable individuals including children, pregnant and nursing women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Many were already experiencing acute food insecurity and malnutrition before the crisis began. Multiple agencies are involved in providing food but so far it has not been possible to reach all equally, in sufficient amounts, or with the needed nutritional content.”

World Renew is partnered with Christian Commission of Development in Bangladesh (CCDB) to provide 3,000 households with food.

Also providing financial support to World Renew and ERDO’s projects are Canadian Foodgrains Bank members Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada, Mennonite Central Committee Canada, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, Presbyterian World Service & Development, Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund, The Salvation Army, The United Church of Canada, and World Relief Canada.

Food Assistance programs with Canadian Foodgrains Bank are generously matched 4:1 by the Government of Canada.