Bangladesh needs sustained support for Rohingyas: WB

World Bank Vice President for South Asia Region Hartwig Schafer yesterday said the world needs to provide sustained support to Bangladesh, to meet the urgent needs of the Rohingyas as well as the host community in Cox's Bazar.

After visiting Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar district, including the Kutupalong camp -- the world's largest and most congested refugee camp -- Schafer praised the government and the people of Bangladesh for their generous efforts that saved thousands of lives as the Rohingyas fled violence in Myanmar.

"Despite its own challenges, Bangladesh shelters nearly one million Rohingya, mostly women and children. Bangladesh has also ably coordinated humanitarian support and provided for basic needs," he said as he concluded a weeklong visit to the country.

"But the need is much larger… The global community cannot afford to become distracted from this crisis and needs to provide more support," he said.

During his visit, Schafer also visited the Ghorashal power plant, where the World Bank is helping improve efficiency and double electricity generation capacity.

In Dhaka, he participated in the launch of a World Bank report entitled "South Asia's hotspots: the impact of temperature and precipitations changes on living standards".

He also met the finance minister, the water resources minister and other senior government officials.