Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Singh, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) remains deeply concerned by the continued crisis facing Rohingyan refugees, especially the 500,000 children currently living in refugee camps in Bangladesh;

(b) notes:

  (i) the particular vulnerability of women and children,

  (ii) that many of Rakhine State's 1 million Rohingya and other minorities live in insubstantial tented camps and rely on United Nations and Non-Government Organisation (NGO) aid for survival,

  (iii) that wild weather including monsoonal rains is wreaking havoc—flooding low-lying areas of the camps and washing raw sewage into family homes and water supplies,

  (iv) that if necessary, refugee camps need to be located on appropriate land which can provide safety from the monsoon season, floods and disease and have adequate space for the provision of services,

  (v) that the proposed camp on the Bay of Bengal silt island Bhasan Char has been criticised by humanitarian agencies concerned that the silt island is vulnerable to frequent cyclones and cannot sustain livelihoods for thousands of people; and

(c) urges the Turnbull Government to:

  (i) do everything in its power to help Rohingya refugee children and their families living in camps by working with the Bangladesh Government to ensure their survival, health and safety, and

  (ii) assist the Government of Bangladesh to make the necessary transition from emergency response to meeting the longer-term development needs of Rohingya refugee children and their families as well as the host community.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government has responded rapidly and generously to the urgent humanitarian needs of refugees in Bangladesh and Myanmar, including by providing $70 million in humanitarian assistance since September 2017 for emergency supplies in Rakhine State, and food, shelter, clean water and essential health services in Cox's Bazar. This includes an additional $18.4 million, announced on 20 June 2018, to support those in Bangladesh.

Managing the humanitarian response during the cyclone and monsoon season is a priority, including to address flooding and landslides and the increased risk of disease outbreak. Australian funding is helping to reinforce shelters, relocating people from at risk locations, positioning food supplies and delivering diphtheria vaccinations.

Question agreed to.