Malaysia and ASEAN urged the World Bank to do more to help displaced refugees by generating economic activities and jobs in communities now grappling with what is surely an escalating humanitarian crisis, Malaysian National News Agency (BERNAMA) reported.

In making the call, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said there was a need for the bank to come out with long-lasting solutions to help host communities and countries manage demographic and macroeconomic shocks of displaced people. 

The “root cause needs to be addressed and the World Bank must work with United Nations agencies on this matter,” he said in a statement issued today while leading a delegation to the just-ended International Monetary Fund-World Bank Annual spring meetings in Washington DC. 

Husni also attended the World Bank’s Development Committee 93rd Plenary Meeting representing the South East Asia Voting Group, whereby Malaysia as the spokesperson for the group made the call to help refugees. 

According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the number of refugees worldwide rose to a staggering 59.5 million at end-2015 from 51.2 million in 2013 due to war, conflict and persecution.