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Politics

Ontario providing $1M to groups giving humanitarian assistance to Rohingya

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Rohingya Muslims, who spent four days in the open after crossing over from Myanmar into Bangladesh, carry their belongings after they were allowed to proceed towards a refugee camp, at Palong Khali, Bangladesh, Oct. 19, 2017. (Dar Yasin/AP)

TORONTO -- Ontario is giving $1 million to organizations providing humanitarian assistance to Myanmar's Rohingya.

Mynamar's security forces' attacks on Rohingya villages have been labelled as ethnic cleansing by the United Nations and roundly denounced by many countries, including Canada.

The federal government announced this week it will provide an additional $12 million in humanitarian assistance, bringing the total of Canada's financial commitment to $25 million so far.

Ottawa also appointed former Ontario premier Bob Rae as a special envoy to Myanmar.

Ontario announced today it is providing $500,000 to the Canadian Red Cross and $500,000 to Medecins Sans Frontieres Canada.

Premier Kathleen Wynne met with members of the Rohingya community in Kitchener, Ont., this week and says talking to them reinforced her belief that the international community must act urgently to end the brutality.

"These are crimes against humanity and responsibility for ending this ethnic cleansing falls squarely on Myanmar's military leadership and its civilian government," Wynne said.