Australian Parliamentarians Visit Cox’s Bazar

DHAKA, Aug. 12 (NsNewsWire) –Australian Parliamentarians Visit Cox’s Bazar From 6-9 August, seven Australian Parliamentarians travelled to Bangladesh to visit
Cox’s Bazar to observe the humanitarian response to the Rohingya crisis. This visit was
arranged as part of the Australian Aid & Parliament Project, an initiative of
Save The Children Australia, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The Australian Aid & Parliament Project provides Parliamentarians with a direct
experience of aid programming, allowing them to see for themselves the effectiveness,
benefits and positive impacts of the Australian Aid program and humanitarian response in
Bangladesh.
The delegation visited a range of projects supported by Australian Aid, including a
Care Women Friendly Space, Plan Temporary Learning Center, Oxfam WASH facility and
World Food Programme food distribution point. The delegation also visited BRAC’s
Community Empowerment Program to learn how the Rohingya crisis is affecting the host
community in Cox’s Bazar. During the visit, Mr Luke Howarth MP said ‘It’s important to
know that Australian aid is being invested well’.
The delegation was highly appreciative of the Government of Bangladesh and its ongoing
efforts to support Rohingya people. Commenting on the humanitarian community’s
response, Opposition representative, Shayne Neumann MP said, ‘They’re undertaking
efforts in incredibly difficult and challenging circumstances and I’m thankful for the
opportunity to see their commitment to helping those in need’.
The Australian Government is committed to working side by side with Bangladesh to
support those in need and has provided AUD70 million for protection and medical
services – particularly for vulnerable women and girls, shelter for Rohingya people and
support to the host community since September 2017.
Further information on Australia’s humanitarian assistance to Bangladesh can be found on
the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website at www.dfat.gov.au press release