EU gives 30 million to Rohingya

brussels/geneve - The European Union releases millions of euros for humanitarian aid to Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar fleeing to Bangladesh.

Over the last two months, approximately 600,000 people have fled from this Islamic minority of Myanmar because of violence from security forces. There are now a small million Rohingya in the region around the Bengal city of Cox's Bazar.

EU Commissioner Christos Stylianides (Humanitarian Aid) announced the contribution of 30 million euros to a UN donor conference in Geneva. The EU had already reserved 21 million.

According to the United Nations, almost 370 million euros are needed in the short term. The expectation is that there will be even more promises in the conference organized by the EU and Kuwait. The Netherlands contributed 2 million euros earlier this month.

The money is spent on water, food, sanitation, healthcare and education. Stylianides will go to Bangladesh next week to visit EU aid projects and meet Rohingya refugees.