DHAKA: Japan on Saturday offered US$3.5 million to help the Rohingya boat people who have fled Myanmar where they faced severe discrimination.

Japan foreign minister Fumio Kishida said Japan remained committed to helping national reconciliation efforts on various fronts in Asia, including between Myanmar’s government and ‘ethnic minority groups’.

‘With regard to non-regular immigrants, including women and children trying to cross the Indian Ocean, Japan has decided to extend US$3.5 million’ through global agencies such as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, he said in a public address.

The money will go to providing food and shelter as well as to fund data analysis of their maritime movements, the foreign ministry said, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 1304 HRS, JUN 20, 2015
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