Geneva: The UAE pledged $7 million to support Rohingya Muslims, alleviate their suffering and improve humanitarian conditions for the refugees.

The allocation was made by the UAE during the UN Donors Conference for Asia's Rohingya refugees, to help those who have fled violence in Myanmar into Bangladesh.

The pledge was announced by Maitha Salem Al Shamsi, Minister of State, during a speech at the UN conference.

She thanked Kuwait, the European Union and UN for organising this conference.

Al Shamsi also thanked Bangladesh for its "noble humanitarian stand" and for hosting more than half a million Rohingya Muslims who fled violence in their country within the past few weeks.

She said that the "barbaric practices experienced by this minority is a shame on humanity, and that these crimes committed against them dishonoured the minimum standards of humanitarian and moral values in keeping the rights of minorities and freedom of religion and belief.”

Al Shamsi stressed that the UAE has emphasised the need for the international community to take a common position and immediate action to stop these practices and hold those involved in these crimes accountable.

"The UAE has undertaken the initiative to help the Muslim minority in Myanmar and was among the first countries to provide all the forms of support to refugees and alleviate their suffering,” Al Shamsi said.