Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to provide humanitarian aid to Rohingya refugees fleeing from Rakhine state; and if she will make a statement.

The UK Government is deeply concerned about the violence against the Rohingya and other communities in Burma’s Rakhine State, and the plight of thousands fleeing their homes. The UK has long been one of the biggest contributors of humanitarian aid for the Rohingya in both Burma and Bangladesh. DFID has already committed £5.9 million to meet the needs of displaced Rohingya and the host communities who support them in Bangladesh. This is reaching 55,188 people with a range of support including food, education and protection of the safety and dignity of the most vulnerable, including women and girls. A further £5 million is being made available to provide urgent assistance to newly arriving refugees with needs such as food, shelter, and water and sanitation. Within Rakhine State we have provided over £30 million in humanitarian assistance since 2012, including food and sanitation for over 126,000 people. We review this support frequently in light of events and needs.