Save the Children welcomes today’s announcement of the final tally for the Myanmar Crisis Relief fund and wishes to thank Canadians for their generosity in ensuring children affected by the crisis in Myanmar receive much-needed life-saving support. The children’s aid agency welcomed the significant contribution of the Canadian Government, whose funding contribution matched Canadian public donations, driving increased support to the relief effort.
Today, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, announced it is contributing $12.55 million in its Myanmar Crisis Relief Fund, the same amount raised by Canadian charities.
“Canada has always been known for its generosity and we would like to thank Canadians for their support to this growing humanitarian and refugee crisis,” said Bill Chambers, President and CEO of Save the Children Canada. “Today’s announcement means we will be able to reach more vulnerable Rohingya refugees, prioritizing the unique needs of women and girls, who have experienced unimaginable violence, trauma and abuse.”
Since August 25, 2017, more than 625,000 Rohingya people have fled violence in Myanmar for Bangladesh, the majority of them women and children. Many of the children are suffering from acute malnutrition, and many have arrived alone, having been separated from their families in the ensuing chaos or because their family members have been killed.
The additional $2.2m funding in this announcement will allow Save the Children to continue providing life-saving support and address the gender-specific needs of women and girls, and vulnerable unaccompanied or separated children. The aid agency is on the ground in Bangladesh providing access to sufficient quantity and quality of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, including gender-sensitive sanitation facilities and latrines to reduce the risks of gender-based violence, distributing shelter kits, including technical and construction support for vulnerable households, such as woman-headed households, and setting up woman and child-friendly spaces.
ENDS
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Jessica Bryant. Senior Manager Communications, Media and Public Relations
647-973-1185
About Save the Children
Save the Children is the world’s leading independent organization for children, delivering programs and improving children’s lives in more than 120 countries worldwide. We save children’s lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. We believe that all children have the right to survive, learn, and be protected, and we will do whatever it takes to reach every last child. Our programs reached more than 157 million children in 2016. Learn more here: www.savethechildren.ca or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @savechildrencanada
Media Contact
For additional information please contact Jessica Bryant Senior Manager, Communications, Media & Public Relations:
About Save the Children
Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In Canada and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.