Dhaka, 3 March, 2026:
Japan has signed a US$2.6 million (JPY 400 million) agreement with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to enhance assistance for Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.
The agreement was formalized on March 3, 2026, in Dhaka through an Exchange of Notes signed by Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi and IOM Bangladesh Chief of Mission Giuseppe Loprete.
The funding will support a comprehensive programme targeting approximately 565,000 Rohingya refugees and members of host communities. Interventions will address urgent needs, including shelter and non-food items, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distribution, healthcare services, and site management and development across refugee camps. The project will also provide livelihood opportunities for refugees in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char, alongside Disaster Risk Reduction initiatives aimed at strengthening resilience among displaced and disaster-prone host communities.
Ambassador Saida reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to improving living conditions and upholding the dignity of vulnerable populations affected by the protracted crisis. IOM noted that humanitarian needs in Cox’s Bazar have intensified in 2026 amid growing refugee demands and limited prospects for long-term solutions.
Since the onset of the Rohingya emergency in August 2017, Japan has contributed over US$250 million to IOM, UN agencies and non-governmental organizations in Bangladesh, remaining one of the most consistent supporters of the humanitarian response.
Source: IOM, Bangladesh
