DHAKA, Dec 21, 2024 (BSS) - The European Union (EU) has announced one million euro in humanitarian aid to address the alarming spread of hepatitis C in the Rohingya camps of Cox’s Bazar. 

This funding will support the response plan spearheaded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and its partners, who are providing critical healthcare services in the camps, according to a statement from the EU mission here.  

The comprehensive plan includes the screening of nearly 475,000 individuals and treatment for approximately 135,000 hepatitis C patients. 

It also emphasizes prevention measures, including infection control, waste management, and risk communication to engage and educate the affected communities effectively.

This latest allocation added to the more than 54 million euro the EU has already provided this year in humanitarian aid to Bangladesh. 

These funds have supported Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar as well as host communities affected by other emergencies, such as tropical cyclone Remal and severe monsoon floods.

Cox’s Bazar, which hosts nearly one million Rohingya, is grappling with an exceptionally high prevalence of hepatitis C, affecting almost one-third of the population. 
Beyond the hepatitis C crisis, the Rohingyas remain heavily dependent on humanitarian aid to meet basic needs, with no durable solutions in sight for this protracted crisis.

The EU’s funding is being provided through its European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) department. 

Operating out of Brussels with a global network of field offices, ECHO delivers humanitarian assistance to millions of people affected by conflict and natural disasters each year, prioritizing the most vulnerable based on assessed needs.