Need for Rohingya support greater now than before: WB

The need to support the host of Myanmar's displaced Rohingya people are much greater now than the initial period as the crisis is rapidly growing.

Visiting World Bank South Asia Region Vice President Annette Dixon made the remarks after seeing for herself the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar on Saturday.

Talking about experiences of Rohingya camp visit, Dixon said, "as far as the eyes can see, lines after lines of shelters—made of plastic sheets and bamboos—stretched over the deforested hills."

“The scale of the influx is enormous. The World Bank is ready to work with the government over the issue," she said.

She assured to mobilise more resources to address current needs of both the host communities and the Rohingya people.

" If the government seeks assistance, we can mobilise more resources ... in a way that will continue to benefit the local people after the Rohingya leave," Annette Dixon said.

The WB official visited the registered and makeshift camps and spoke with the Rohingya and the local community.

UNB said, Dixon also met local government officials and representatives of the many Bangladeshi and international relief agencies and NGOs that are working to support the Rohingya population in the area.

Annette Dixon praised the government of Bangladesh and its people for sheltering and caring for the large influx of Rohingya fleeing violence in Myanmar.

The WB official also mentioned the role of the local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and development partners for their support to save thousands of lives.

Earlier in the week, Dixon spoke at the invitation of the government at the Bangladesh Development Forum in Dhaka.