MARIE-CLAUDE Bibeau, federal Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, marked World Food Day by announcing a contribution to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank to feed over 25,000 Rohingya refugees in informal settlements in Bangladesh.

Bibeau made the announcement while participating in a harvest agricultural event hosted by the Foodgrains Bank in South Glengarry, Ontario. This long-standing partner manages a drawdown fund to provide food and nutrition assistance to people experiencing humanitarian crises around the world.

Monday’s announcement totalling over $1 million will enable two of the Foodgrains Bank’s members—Emergency Relief and Development Overseas, and World Renew—to provide food assistance to thousands of households to help respond to the influx of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

Bibeau said: “Canada is proud to support Canadian organizations working tirelessly and collaboratively to raise funds for some of the poorest communities abroad. These initiatives will ensure that the thousands of Rohingya families who have had to flee their homes still have nutritious food to eat during this time of crisis.

“On this World Food Day, I wanted to personally witness the efforts of our partners and thank them for making a meaningful difference in providing millions of people around the world with the help and food security they need.”