NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar (The Hindu) — Aurora Prize Laureate Kyaw Hla Aung, a noted lawyer and activist from Myanmar, this week announced he would donate his $1 million award money towards humanitarian relief work among Rohingya refugees.
He was given the award this year for his fight against injustice and advocating on behalf of the Rohingya people.
The money will be distributed among three international organizations — Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF), the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) and MERCY Malaysia — providing medical aid and assistance to Rohingya refugees across South East Asia, the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative (AHI) has announced.
MSF, UK, will receive $400,000, while MERCY Malaysia and the ICMC $300,000 each. This initiative will benefit around 3,75,000 Rohingya refugees, a media release said.
The AHI, founded on behalf of the Armenian Genocide survivors, seeks to help those in urgent need of basic humanitarian aid. MSF is directing the funds to further advance the emergency response in the Balukhali Makeshift Settlements in Bangladesh, the AHI said.
The organisation estimates that it will benefit approximately 2,50,000 Rohingya refugees, it said.
